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
261 u If the Ancients crown'd their bravest Men, &c.] The
Romans highly honoured, and nobly rewarded, those persons
that were instrumental in the preservation of the lives of their
citizens, either in battle or otherwise
305 w Or else their Sultan Populaces, &c.] The Author
compares the arbitrary actings of the ungovernable mob to the
Sultan or Grand Signior, who very seldom fails to sacrifice any
of his chief commanders, called Bassas, if they prove
unsuccessful in battle.
350 x As the ancient Mice attack'd the Frogs.) Homer wrote a
poem of the War between the Mice and the Frogs.
383 y And stout Rinaldo gain'd his Bride, &c.] A story in Tasso,
an Italian Poet, of a hero that gained his mistress by conquering
her party.
577 z An old dull Sot, who told the Clock, &c.] Prideux, a
justice of peace, a very pragmatical busy person in those times,
and a mercenary and cruel magistrate, infamous for the
following methods of getting of money among many others.
589 a And many a trusty Pimp and Croney, &c.] There was a
gaol for puny offenders.
599 b Made Monsters fine, and Puppet-plays, &c.] He extorted
money from those that kept shows.
715 c From Stiles's Pocket into Nokes's, &c.] John a Nokes, and
John a Stiles, are two fictitious names made use of in stating
cases of law only.
742 d On BONGEY for a Water Witch.] Bongey was a
Franciscan, and lived towards the end of the thirteenth century,
a doctor of divinity in Oxford; and a particular acquaintance of
Friar Bacon's. In that ignorant age, every thing that seemed
extraordinary was reputed magick; and so both Bacon and
Bongey went under the imputation of studying the black-art.
Bongey also, publishing a treatise of Natural Magick, confirmed
some well-meaning credulous people in this opinion; but it was
altogether groundless; for Bongey was chosen provincial of his
order, being a person of most excellent parts and piety.
AN HEROICAL EPISTLE OF HUDIBRAS TO HIS LADY.
I who was once as great as CAESAR,
Am now reduc'd to NEBUCHADNEZZAR;
And from as fam'd a conqueror
As ever took degree in war,
Or did his exercise in battle, 5
By you turn'd out to grass with cattle:
For since I am deny'd access
To all my earthly happiness
Am fallen from the paradise
Of your good graces, and fair eyes; 10
Lost to the world, and you, I'm sent
To everlasting banishment;
Where all the hopes I had t' have won
Your heart, b'ing dash'd, will break my own.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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