as a much Wit and Humour, in Heroic Verfe, as he " is in Doggerel, he would have made a much more agreeable figure than he does; tho' the generality "of his Readers are fo wonderfully pleased with his "Double Rhymes, that I don't expect many will be "of my Opinion in this particular." This seems to contradict what he afferts just before, where he delivers it as his Opinion, That Burlesque, when the Hero is to be pull'd down, and degraded, runs beft in Doggerel. And I may appeal to the Reader, whether our Hero, who was a Knight, Colonel, and Juftice of the Peace, is not effectually pull'd down, and degraded, in the Character and Fortune of Sir Hudibras? However, Mr. Addison's obfervation is certainly juft, and we cannot forbear wifhing with Mr. a Burlesk, Ludicrus, Jocularis; a Burlesk Poem, Carmen jocalare: G. Burlesque; It. Burlesco, to Burlesk; G. Burler; It. Burlare Lat. Barbaris Burdare eft jocare. De quo Vid. Bourde, Focus. Junii Etymologic. Anglican. "With regard to Burlesque, (fays an ingenious French Writer, Dissertation fur la Poefie Anglois (fee Gen. Hift. Di&. v. 6. p. 296.) "The English have a Poet whose Repu"tation is equal to that of Scarron in French, I mean the Author "of Hudibras, a Comical History in Verse, written in the time " of Oliver Cromwell: it is faid to be a delicate Satyr on that kind "of Interregnum; and that it is levell'd particularly at the Con"duct of the Presbyterians, whom the Author represents as a fenfeless fett of People, Promoters of Anarchy, and compleat Hypocrites. Hudibras the Hero of this Poem, is a Holy Don Quixote of that Sect, and the Redreffer of the Imaginary "Wrongs, that are done to his Dulcinea. The Knight has his Rofinante, his Burlesque Adventures, and his Sancho; But the Squire of the English Poet, is of an oppofite Character to that "of the Spanish Sancho; for whereas the latter is a plain unaffected "Peafant, the English Squire is a Taylor by Trade, a Tartuff, "or finish'd Hypocrite by Birth; and fo deep a dogmatic Divine, that 66 66 He could deep Myfteries unriddle, "As it is faid in the Poem. The Author of Hudibras is preferable to Scarron, because he has one fix'd Mark or Object; and that "by a furprizing effort of Imagination, he has found the Art of leading his Readers to it, by diverting them." Dryden, Dryden, (fee Dedication to Juvenal, p. 128.) " That "fo great a Genius (as Mr. Butler poffefs'd) had not "condefcended to Burlesque, but left that Task to "others, for He would always have excell'd, had "he taken any other kind of Verse. But fince Burlesque was his peculiar Talent, and he has chofen this kind of Verfe, let us examine, how far he may be justified, and applauded for it. And here we cannot begin better than with the Opinion of the Great Mr. Dryden, Speaking of Mr. Butler, (Dedication to Juvenal, p. 128, 129.) he fays, "The "Worth of his Poem is too well known to need my "Commendation; and He is above my Cenfure: "the Choice of his Numbers is fuitable enough to "his Defign, as he has managed it; but in any other hand, the Shortnefs of his Verfe, and the quick "Returns of Rhime, had debas'd the Dignity of "Style; His Good Senfe is perpetually shining 6. 66 66 through all he writes; it affords us not the time of finding Faults; we pass through the Levity of his Rhime, and one is immediately carried into fome "admirable useful Thought: after all, he has cho"fen This kind of Verfe, and has written the Best " in it." To this let me add, that the Shortnefs of Verse, and quick Returns of Rhime, have been fome of the principal Means of raifing and perpetuating the Fame which this Poem has acquir'd, for the Turns of Wit and Satyrical Sayings, being short and pithy, are therefore more tenable by the memory: and this is the reafon why Hudibras is more frequently quoted in Converfation, than the fineft Pieces of Wit in Heroic Poetry. d As for the Double Rhimes, we have Mr. Dryden's Authority, (ibid. p. 128.) that they are neceffary "As to the Double Rhimes in Hudibras (fays the Author of the Grub-Street Journal, No 47. fee General Hiftorical Dictionary, vol. 6. pag. 295.) "though fome have look'd upon them as a 66 Blemish, Companions of Burlesque Writing. Befides, were they really Faults, they are neither so many as to caft a blemish upon the known Excellencies of this Poem; nor yet folely, to captivate the Affections of the generality of it's Readers: no; their Admiration is moved by a higher Pleasure, than the meer Jingle of Words; the Sublimity of Wit, and Pungency of Satire, claim our Regard, and merit our higheft Applaufe: In fhort, the Poet has furprizingly displayed the noblest Thoughts in a Dress fo humorous and comical, that it is no wonder, that it foon became the chief Entertainment of the King and Court, after it's publication; was highly esteemed by one of the greatest Wits in that Reign; and ftill continues to be an Entertainment to all, who have a Tafte for the most refined Ridicule and Satire. Hudibras is then an indifputable Original; for the Poet trod in a Path wherein he had no Guide, nor has he had many Followers. Though he had no Pattern, yet he had the Art of erecting himself into a Standard, lofty and elegant. Numberlefs Imitators have been unwarily drawn after it: his Method and Verse he has chofen, at first view feeming fo eafy and inviting, they were readily lifted into the view of his Fame: but alas! how miferably have they failed in the Attempt. Such wretched Imitations have augmented the Fame of the Original, and evidenc'd the "Blemish, it is generally the Reverse, they heightening the Ri"dicule, that was otherwife in the Representation, of which many Instances may be produced." (fee N° 48.) 66 • The Earl of Rochester seem'd to set a high value upon His approbation. Hor. Sat 10. imitated. fee Works of Lord Rochefter and Rofcommon, 2a edit. 1707. p. 25. and Gen. Hift. Di&. vol. 6. p. 295: I loath the Rabble, 'tis enough for me VOL. I. B chiefeft chiefest Excellency in Writing, to be in Butler; which is, the being natural and easy, and yet inimitable. This has been long the diftinguishing Characteristick of Hudibras, grounded upon an undeniable Truth, that all Imitations have hitherto proved unfuccessful. Indeed, it must be own'd, that Mr. Prior has been the most happy of all the Followers of Butler; and has approach'd the nearest to his Style and Humour. Tho' He was Second to Butler, as Philips was to Milton; yet he was fenfible of an apparent Disparity betwixt them, as is obferved in the Notes, (fee the laft Note on the first Canto of this Poem;) where is the ingenuous Acknowledgment he makes of his Inferiority, in a fingular Compliment to our Poet. Attempts have likewife been made to translate fome parts of this Poem into the Latin Tongue: we have three Similes of this kind by the Learned Dr. Harmer, in the Poet's Life; but he, and all others have found a thorough Translation impracticable. Nay, fo far fpread is the Fame of Hudibras, that we are told, it has met with a general and kind reception through Christendome by all that are acquainted with the Language; and that it had been before now' tranflated into moft European Languages, in the laft, or prefent age, had not the Poet by coyning new Words, to make Jingle to his Verfes, (called Carmen Joculare by the Latins) rendered it fo extremely difficult to make "f There is one English Poem-the Title whereof is Hudibras "-it is Don Quixote, it is our Satyre Menippeè blended together. "I never met with fo much Wit in one fingle Book as in this; "which at the fame time is the most difficult to be tranflated: who "would believe that a Work which paints in fuch lively and na"tural Colours the feveral Foibles and Follies of Mankind, and "where we meet with more Sentiments than Words, fhould baffle "the Endeavours of the ablest Translator! But the reafon of it is "This; almost every part of it alludes to particular Incidents. (Voltair's Letters concerning the English Nation, pag. 212, 213. London, 1733. 80. General Hiftorical Dictionary, vol. 6. pag. 293. fee likewife pag. 296. ibid.) it (fee Dedication to it intelligible in another Tongue. an Edition of Butler's Pofthumous Works.) However, he is ftill the unrivall'd Darling of his own Country; and his Name will be ever famed, while he continues to be read in the Closets, and quoted in the Writings and Converfation of the Politeft Writers of the English Nation. Among the many Excellencies peculiar to this Poem, a very fingular one ought not to be omitted, with which it may be faid to be qualified, in common with fome other extraordinary Writings: I mean the Fashion, that has prevail'd of prefcribing them for the Cure of Diftempers both in Body and Mind: for instance, Dr. Serenus Sammonicus a celebrated Physician, has gravely prescribed the Fourth Book of Homer's Iliad to be laid under the Head for the cure of a Quartan Ague. (fee the laft note on Iliad the 4th) Monfieur Saint Evremont has likewife recommended Don Quixote, as a proper Potion to give Relief to an Heavy Heart. (see Spectator, N° 163.) Jealoufy has been cured by the 170th and 171" Spectators taken in a Difh of Chocolate; and N° 173. 184. 191. 203. 221. with half a dozen more of these wonder-working Papers are attested to be infallible Cures for Hypocondriac Melancholly. (fee N° 547.)-Hudibras may come in for his Share of Fame with thefe renowned Remedies: and I am much mistaken, if he may not stand in competition with any of the Spectators for the Cure of the last mentioned Diftemper. Upon thefe Authorities, why might not this Poem be prescribed as an infallible Cure not only of the Spleen and Vapours, but of Enthusiasm and Hypocrify? Having thus fet to view the Excellency of this Poem, and the univerfal Applause it has defervedly met with: what naturally follows but an Enquiry after the Poet, and the refpect that has been paid him? and here I am apprehensive the one will prove as great a Reproach to the Nation, as the other does an Honour to it. |