The mischievous lady, nevertheless, only consents to liberate Hudibras upon condition that he shall administer a sound flogging to himself. Hudibras willingly promises this, and is released, but next day he thinks better of it, and consults Ralpho whether he is actually bound by his oath. Ralpho's reply abounds with the pithy couplets so frequent in _Hudibras_, which have become a part of the language: 'Oaths were not purposed, more than law, To keep the good and just in awe, But to confine the bad and sinful, Like moral cattle in a pinfold.' 'The Rabbins write, when any Jew Did make to God or man a vow Which afterward he found untoward And stubborn to be kept, or too hard; Any three other Jews of the nation Might free him from his obligation. And have not two saints power to use A greater privilege than three Jews?' 'Does not in Chancery every man swear What makes best for him in his answer?' 'He that imposes an oath makes it, Not he that for convenience takes it; Then how can any man be said To break an oath he never made?' 'That sinners may supply the place Of suff'ring saints is a plain case. Justice gives sentence many times On one man for another's crimes. Our brethren of New England use Choice malefactors to excuse, And hang the guiltless in their stead, Of whom the churches have less need: As lately 't happened in a town, There liv'd a cobler, and but one, That out of doctrine could cut use, And mend men's lives as well as shoes. This precious brother having slain, In times of peace, an Indian, (Not out of malice, but mere zeal, Because he was an infidel) The mighty Tottipottymoy Sent to our elders an envoy; Complaining sorely of the breach Of league, held forth by brother Patch, Against the articles in force Between both churches, his and ours, For which he crav'd the saints to render Into his hands, or hang th' offender: But they maturely having weigh'd They had no more but him o' th' trade, (A man that serv'd them in a double Capacity, to teach and cobble,) Resolv'd to spare him; yet to do The Indian Hoghgan Moghgan too Impartial justice, in his stead did Hang an old weaver that was bed-rid.'