In the catalogue of the English who fell, Witherington's behaviour is in
the same manner particularised very artfully, as the reader is prepared
for it by that account which is given of him in the beginning of the
battle; though I am satisfied your little buffoon readers, who have seen
that passage ridiculed in "Hudibras," will not be able to take the beauty
of it: for which reason I dare not so much as quote it.
Then stept a gallant 'squire forth,
Witherington was his name,
Who said, "I would not have it told
To Henry our king for shame,
"That e'er my captain fought on foot,
And I stood looking on."
We meet with the same heroic sentiment in Virgil:
_Non pudet_, _O Rutuli_, _cunctis pro talibus unam_
_Objectare animam_? _numerone an viribus aequi_
_Non sumus_?
_AEn._ xii. 229
For shame, Rutilians, can you hear the sight
Of one exposed for all, in single fight?
Can we before the face of heav'n confess
Our courage colder, or our numbers less?