Did not the great La Mancha do so 875
For the infanta Del Toboso? 
Did not th’ illustrious Bassa make
Himself a slave for Misse’s sake? 
And with bull’s pizzle, for her love,
Was taw ’d as gentle as a glove? 880
Was not young Florio sent (to cool
His flame for BIANCAFIORE) to school,
Where pedant made his pathic bum
For her sake suffer martyrdom? 
Did not a certain lady whip 885
Of late her husband’s own Lordship? 
And though a grandee of the House,
Claw’d him with fundamental blows
Ty’d him stark naked to a bed-post,
And firk’d his hide, as if sh’ had rid post 890
And after, in the sessions-court,
Where whipping’s judg’d, had honour for’t? 
This swear you will perform, and then
I’ll set you from th’ inchanted den,
And the magician’s circle clear. 895

Quoth he, I do profess and swear,
And will perform what you enjoin,
Or may I never see you mine. 
Amen, (quoth she;) then turn’d about,
And bid her Esquire let him out. 900
But ere an artist could be found
T’ undo the charms another bound,
The sun grew low, and left the skies,
Put down (some write) by ladies eyes,
The moon pull’d off her veil of light 905
That hides her face by day from sight,
(Mysterious veil, of brightness made,
That’s both her lustre and her shade,)
And in the lanthorn of the night
With shining horns hung out her light; 910
For darkness is the proper sphere,
Where all false glories use t’ appear. 
The twinkling stars began to muster,
And glitter with their borrow’d lustre,
While sleep the weary ’d world reliev’d, 915
By counterfeiting death reviv’d;
His whipping penance till the morn
Our vot’ry thought it best t’ adjourn,
And not to carry on a work
Of such importance in the dark, 920
With erring haste, but rather stay,
And do’t in th’ open face of day;
And in the mean time go in quest
Of next retreat to take his rest.

CANTO II

THE ARGUMENT.

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The Knight and Squire, in hot dispute,
Within an ace of falling out,
Are parted with a sudden fright
Of strange alarm, and stranger sight;
With which adventuring to stickle,
They’re sent away in nasty pickle.
-------------------------------------------------

‘Tis strange how some mens’ tempers suit
(Like bawd and brandy) with dispute,
That for their own opinions stand last
Only to have them claw’d and canvast;
That keep their consciences in cases, 5