ropean languages in the last or prefent age, had not the poet, by coining new words, to make jingle to his verfes (called Carmen Joculare by the Latins), rendered it fo extremely difficult to make it intelligible in another tongue. (See Dedication to an edition of Butler's pofthumous Works.) However, he is still the unrivalled darling of his own country; and his name will be ever famed, while he continues to be read in the clofets, and quoted in the writings and conversation, of the politest 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 prevailed of prescribing them for the cure of distempers both in body and mind; for instance, Dr. Serenus Sammonicus, a celebrated phyfican, has gravely prefcribed the fourth book of Homer's Iliad to be laid under the head for the cure of a quartan ague. (See the laft note on Iliad the 4th. Monfieur Saint Evremont has likewife recommended Don

But the reafon of it is this: almost every part of it alludes to particular incidents." Voltaire's Letters concerning the English Nation, p. 212, 213, London, 1733, 8vo.; Gen. Hift. Dict. vol. vi. p. 293. See likewife, p. 296, ibid.

Quixote

Quixote as a proper potion to give relief to an heavy heart. (See Spectator, No. 163.) Jealoufy has been cured by the 170th and 171st Spectators taken in a difh of chocolate; and No. 173, 184, 191, 203, 221, with half-adozen more of thefe wonder-working papers, are attefted to be infallible cures for hypochondriac melancholy. See No. 547.-Hudibras may come in for his fhare of fame with thefe renowned remedies; and I am much mistaken if he may not ftand in competition.

with

any of the Spectators for the cure of the last-mentioned diftemper. Upon these authorities, why might not this poem be prefcribed as an infallible cure not only of the fpleen and vapours, but of enthusiasm and hypocrify?

Having thus fet to view the excellency of this Poem, and the univerfal applause it has deservedly met with, what naturally follows but an inquiry after the Poct, and the refpect that has been paid him? And here I am apprehenfive the one will prove as great a reproach to the nation as the other does an honour to it.

The Lord Dorfet was the first that introduced Hudibras into reputation at court; for Mr. Prior fays (Dedication to his Poems) it

was

was owing to him that the court tafted that Poem. It foon became the chief entertainment of the King, who often pleasantly quoted it in conversation. From this fair profpect, therefore, we might rationally conclude, that the Poet tafted plentifully of royal munificence, and that he was cherished by the Great, as well as his Poem. I am fure his wit and his loyalty equally merited reward and encouragement: but alas! upon the ftricteft inquiry we shall find, that he met with * neglect instead of regard, and empty delufive promises in the room of real performances. A difregard of his friends was what King Charles has been highly blamed for; and we cannot have a stronger instance of that disregard, than his being unmindful of Mr. Butler, whose works had done eminent service to the royal caufe, and honour to his country. It is strange that King Charles fhould be thus forgetful of a man whose words were so often in his mouth, and daily afforded him a remarkable pleasure in conversation.

*Unpity'd Hudibras, your champion friend,
Has shown how far your charities extend;
This lafting verse fhall on his tomb be read,
He fham'd you living, and upbraids you dead."

Hind and Panther, Dryden's Mifcel. Gen. Hift. Dict. vol. vi.

p. 296.

We

We are indeed informed, that Mr. Butler was once in a fair way of obtaining a royal gratuity, as the following account, if true, will show*. "Mr. Wycherly had always laid hold of any opportunity which offered to reprefent to his Grace (the Duke of Buckingham) how well Mr. Butler had deferved of the Royal Family by writing his inimitable Hudibras; and that it was a reproach to the court that a person of his loyalty and wit should suffer in obfcurity, and under the wants he did. The Duke feemed always to hearken to him with attention enough; and after some time undertook to recommend his pretenfions to his Majefty. Mr. Wycherly, in hopes to keep him steady to his word, obtained of his Grace to name a day when he might introduce the modeft and unfortunate Poet to his new patron: at laft an appointment was made, and the place of meeting was appointed to be the Roe-Buck: Mr. Butler and his friend attended accordingly, the Duke joined them." But by an unlucky incident this interview was broke off, for which I refer the reader to the authority cited in the margin. And it will always by 'remembered, to the reproach of that learned age, that this great and

* General Historical Dictionary, vol. vi. p. 291.

inimi

inimitable Poet was fuffered to live and die in

want and obfcurity.

The King's exceffive fondness for the Poem, and furprising difregard and neglect of the author, is fully and movingly related by Mr. Butler (Hudibras at Court, fee Remains), who thence takes occasion to do justice to his Poem by hinting its excellencies in general †, and paying a few modest compliments to himself, of which the following lines are worth tranfcribing:

Now you must know, Sir Hudibras,
With fuch perfections gifted was,
And fo peculiar in his manner,

That all that faw him did him honour;
Among the rest this prince was one
Admir'd his conversation;

* "King Charles II. never ordered Butler more than one gratuity, and that was 300 pounds, which had this compliment paid to it, that it paffed all the offices without a fee, at the folicitation of Mr. William Longueville of the Temple, Lord Danby being at that time High Treasurer." A proof of the great honour and honefty of our poet is this, "That, upon his being ordered the three hundred pounds above mentioned by the King, he called to mind that he owed more than that fum to different perfons, from whom he had borrowed monies, or otherwife contracted debts; for which reafon he entreated Mr. Longueville to pay away the whole gratuity, who accordingly did fo; and Butler did not receive a thilling of it." (See Butler's Life under the word Hudibras, General Hift. Dict. vol. vi. p. 299, Note.)

+ See Cervantes's reflection upon the bad books of his time, with a compliment upon his own, under the denomination of the Licentiate Marquez Torres. Jarvis's Life of Cervantes, p. 25.