Hudibras, in Three Parts, Written in the Time of the Late WarsButler, Samuel
General
Hudibras, in Three Parts, Written in the Time of the Late Wars
Butler, Samuel
English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
639 l Like Indian Widows, &c.] The Indian women, richly
attired, are carried in a splendid and pompous machine to the
funeral pile where the bodies of their deceased husbands are to
be consumed, and there voluntarily throw themselves into it,
and expire; and such as refuse, their virtue is ever after
suspected, and they live in the utmost contempt.
647 m For as the Pythagorean, &c.] It was the opinion of
Pythogoras and his followers, that, the soul transmigrated (as
they termed it) into all the diverse species of animals; and so
was differently disposed and affected, according to their
different natures and constitutions.
707 n For tho' Chineses, &c.] The Chinese men of quality, when
their wives are brought to bed, are nursed and tended with as
much care as women here, and are supplied with the best
strengthening and nourishing diet, in order to qualify them for
future services.
751 o Transform them into Rams, &c.] The Sirens according to
the poets, were three sea-monsters, half women and half fish:
their names were Parthenope, Lignea and Leucosia. Their usual
residence was about the island of Sicily, where, by the charming
melody of their voices, they used to detain those that heard
them, and then transform them into some sort of brute animals.
755 p By the Husband Mandrake, &c.] Naturalists report, that
if a male and female Mandrake lie near each other, there will
often be heard a sort of murmuring noise.
797 q The World is but two Parts, &c.] The equinoctial divides
the globe into North and South.
819 r Unless among the Amazons, &c.] The Amazons were
women of Scythia, of heroick and great atchievements. They
suffered no men to live among them; but once every year used
to have conversation with men, of the neighbouring countries,
by which if they had a male child, they presently either killed or
crippled it; but if a female, they brought it up to the use of arms,
and burnt off one breast, leaving the other to suckle girls.
865 s The Nymphs of chaste Diana's &c.] Diana's Nymphs, all
of whom vowed perpetual virginity, and were much celebrated
for the exact observation of their vow.
866 t Lewkner's Lane.] Some years ago swarmed with
notoriously lascivious and profligate strumpets.
877 u The Reason of it is &c.] Demanding the clergy of her
belly, which, for the reasons aforesaid, is pleaded in excuse by
those who take the liberty to oblige themselves and friends.
1086 w As IRONSIDE or HARDIKNUTE, &c.] Two famous
and valiant princes of this country; the one a Saxon, the other a
Dane.
1131 x But those that trade in Geomancy, &c.] The Lapland
Magi. The Laplanders are an idolatrous people, far North: and it
is very credibly reported, by authors and persons that have
travelled in their country, that they do perform things incredible
by what is vulgarly called Magick.
1158 y To burning with, &c.] An allusion to cauterizing in
apoplexies, &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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