The often-quoted lines--

"For he that fights and runs away
May live to fight another day,"

generally supposed to form a part of _Hudibras_, are to be found (as
Mr. Cunningham points out, at p. 602. of his _Handbook for London_),
in the _Musarum Deliciæ_, 12mo. 1656; a clever collection of "witty
trifles," by Sir John Mennis and Dr. James Smith.

The passage, as it really stands in _Hudibras_ (book iii. canto iii.
verse 243.), is as follows:--

"For those that fly may fight again,
Which he can never do that's slain."

But there is a much earlier authority for these lines than the
_Musarum Deliciæ_; a fact which I learn from a volume now open
before me, the great rarity of which will excuse my transcribing the
title-page in full:--

"Apophthegmes, that is to saie, prompte, quicke, wittie, and
sentencious saiynges, of certain Emperours, Kynges, Capitaines,
Philosophiers, and Oratours, as well Grekes as Romaines, bothe
veraye pleasaunt and profitable to reade, partely for all maner of
persones, and especially Gentlemen. First gathered and compiled in
Latine by the right famous clerke, Maister Erasmus, of Roteradame.
And now translated into Englyshe by Nicolas Udall. _Excusam typis
Ricardi Grafton_, 1542. 8vo."