I've heard old cunning stagers Say, fools for arguments use wagers.

He'd undertake to prove, by force Of argument, a man's no horse. He'd prove a buzzard is no fowl, And that a Lord may be an owl, A calf an Alderman, a goose a Justice, And rooks, Committee-men or Trustees.

Whatever Sceptic could inquire for, For every why he had a wherefore.

We are not won by arguments that we can analyse but by tone and temper, by the manner which is the man himself.

Quoth Hudibras, I smell a rat; Ralpho, thou dost prevaricate.

For now the field is not far off Where we must give the world a proof Of deeds, not words.