The fight so well, ’twas hard to say
Which side was like to get the day. 
And now the busy work of death 555
Had tir’d them so, th’ agreed to breath,
Preparing to renew the fight,
When the disaster of the Knight,
And th’ other party, did divert
Their fell intent, and forc’d them part. 560
Ralpho press’d up to Hudibras,
And CERDON where Magnano was;
Each striving to confirm his party
With stout encouragements, and hearty.

Quoth RALIHO, Courage, valiant Sir, 565
And let revenge and honour stir
Your spirits up:  once we fall on,
The shatter’d foe begins to run: 
For if but half so well you knew
To use your victory as subdue, 570
They durst not, after such a blow
As you have given them, face us now;
But from so formidable a soldier
Had fled like crows when they smell powder. 
Thrice have they seen your sword aloft 575
Wav’d o’er their heads, and fled as oft. 
But if you let them recollect
Their spirits, now dismay’d and checkt,
You’ll have a harder game to play
Than yet y’ have had to get the day. 580

Thus spoke the stout Squire; but was heard
By Hudibras with small regard. 
His thoughts were fuller of the bang
Be lately took than Ralph’s harangue;
To which he answer’d, Cruel Fate 585
Tells me thy counsel comes too late. 
The knotted blood within my hose,
That from my wounded body flows,
With mortal crisis doth portend
My days to appropinque an end. 590
I am for action now unfit,
Either of fortitude or wit: 
Fortune, my foe, begins to frown,
Resolv’d to pull my stomach down. 
I am not apt, upon a wound, 595
Or trivial basting, to despond: 
Yet I’d be loth my days to curtail: 
For if I thought my wounds not mortal,
Or that we’d time enough as yet,
To make an hon’rable retreat, 600
’Twere the best course:  but if they find
We fly, and leave our arms behind
For them to seize on, the dishonour,
And danger too, is such, I’ll sooner
Stand to it boldly, and take quarter, 605
To let them see I am no starter. 
In all the trade of war, no feat
Is nobler than a brave retreat: 
For those that run away, and fly,
Take place at least of th’ enemy. 610

This said, the Squire, with active speed
Dismounted from his bonny steed,
To seize the arms, which, by mischance,
Fell from the bold Knight in a trance. 
These being found out, and restor’d 615
To Hudibras their natural lord,
As a man may say, with might and main,