1This huge leviathan
, for all his strength, 2Is by an Indian’s wit subdued
at length. 3Who can but such a monstrous bulk deride,
4Who suffers
one upon his neck to ride, 5Knocking in billets
into either nose
6Whence seas and shoals
of fishes ever flows? 7Nor cares he though he
bounce, or flounce, or beat 8Against the rocks, yet still he keeps his seat
9And spite of’s
teeth, he rides him to the shores 10Where, filled with horror, he
his life out roars
. 11Thus he triumphant lights
; thus ends his toil, 12Cutting his unctuous collops
out to boil. 13By this you see that wit doth oft subdue
14The greatest strength; this elephants find true
; 15And so the youths of Thessaly did tame
16The warlike horse
; so bulls they overcame, 17Whence called Centaurus
; so, against their wills, 18Four thousand whales are forced to draw in mills.
19Then though thy strength and courage do transcend,
20Be not too proud, nor on them both depend;
21Do not thy despicablest foe despise,
22For, from the vulgar
, one
you see did rise, 23Which did the fierce and monstrous Hydra back
. 24The jade was resty and did riding lack;
25Now the tame beast both whip and spur abides;
26Needs must they gallop whom the devil drives.
27So when he did possess the herd of swine
, 28They straight ran headlong into Neptune’s brine
. 29Then let the giddy monster
warning take, 30Lest they precipitate
into that lake 31Where sulfur mixed with never-quenchéd fire
, 32Where they still die, yet never quite expire.
33Then take my counsel and the fiend
off throw, 34Lest he and you into perdition go.