And I (quoth Ralpho) do not doubt 835
But bear-baiting may be made out,
In gospel-times, as lawful as is
Provincial or parochial classis;
And that both are so near of kin,
And like in all, as well as sin, 840
That put them in a bag, and shake ’em,
Yourself o’ th’ sudden would mistake ’em,
And not know which is which, unless
You measure by their wickedness: 
For ’tis not hard t’imagine whether 845
O’ th’ two is worst; tho’ I name neither.

Quoth Hudibras, Thou offer’st much,
But art not able to keep touch. 
Mira de lente, as ‘tis i’ th’ adage,
Id est, to make a leek a cabbage; 850
Thou’lt be at best but such a bull,
Or shear-swine, all cry, and no wool;
For what can synods have at all
With bear that’s analogical? 
Or what relation has debating 855
Of church-affairs with bear-baiting? 
A just comparison still is
Of things ejusdem generis;
And then what genus rightly doth
Include and comprehend them both? 860
If animal both of us may
As justly pass for bears as they;
For we are animals no less,
Altho’ of different specieses. 
But, Ralpho, this is not fit place 865
Nor time to argue out the case: 
For now the field is not far off,
Where we must give the world a proof
Of deeds, not words, and such as suit
Another manner of dispute; 870
A controversy that affords
Actions for arguments, not words;
Which we must manage at a rate
Of prowess and conduct adequate
To what our place and fame doth promise, 875
And all the godly expect from us,
Nor shall they be deceiv’d, unless
We’re slurr’d and outed by success;
Success, the mark no mortal wit,
Or surest hand can always hit:  880
For whatsoe’er we perpetrate,
We do but row, we’re steer’d by Fate,
Which in success oft disinherits,
For spurious causes, noblest merits. 
Great actions are not always true sons 885
Of great and mighty resolutions;
Nor do th’ boldest attempts bring forth
Events still equal to their worth;
But sometimes fail, and, in their stead,
Fortune and cowardice succeed. 890
Yet we have no great cause to doubt;
Our actions still have borne us out;
Which tho’ they’re known to be so ample,
We need not copy from example. 
We’re not the only persons durst 895
Attempt this province, nor the first. 
In northern clime a val’rous Knight
Did whilom kill his bear in fght,
And wound a fiddler; we have both
Of these the objects of our wroth, 900