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 outroars
. 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 Centaurs
; 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 rides
. 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 sulphur mixed with never-quenchèd 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.