express. The measure is quick, sprightly, and colloquial, suitable to the vulgarity of the words and the Jevity of the sentiments. But such numbers and such diction can gain regard only when they are used by a writer whose vigour of fancy and copiousness of knowledge entitle him to contempt of ornaments, and who, in confidence of the novelty and justness of his conceptions can afford to throw metaphors and epithets away. To another that conveys common thoughts in careless versification, it will only be said, Pauper videri Cinna vult, et est pauper." The meaning and diction will be worthy of each other, and criticism may justly doom them to perish togethNor, even tho' another Butler should arise, would another Hudibras obtain the same regard." Several imitations of Hudibras have been attempted, such as "The second Part of Hudibras," "Butler's Ghost," ," "The occasional Hypocrite," and others, but without success. The author of the first of those pieces is supposed to have been ridiculed in Butler's description of Whackum's skill in poetry. The verses are excellent and may serve as a specimen of our author's wit, and humour. er. "Besides all this, he serv'd his master and rhymes appropriate cou'd make that, circled with the long-ear'd guests, nor porter's burthen pass'd along, of monsters, or their dear delight which none does hear but would have hung, Hud. p. ii, can. iii, v. 358. Some time after Butler's death, 3 small volumes were published as his posthumous works; but as they added nothing to the reputation of the author of Hudibras, they have been deemed spurious. Two small volumes, certainly genuine, where published as his posthumous works, in 1759, by Mr. Thyer, of the public library, Manchester, from manuscripts received from Mr. Longueville. A new edition of Hudibras was published in 1744, by Zachary Grey, LL. D. with large annotations, and a preface, in two volumes, 8vo. The large poem of Hudibras is too local and obsolete to be selected from; the following pieces are therefore taken as favourable specimens of Butler's manner, style, wit, and originality. Satire was his forte and indignation gave it keenness. SATIRE UPON GAMING. What fool would trouble Fortune more, out of his pow'r, on trays and deuses; to have the charge of man, combin'd (not as, in cities, to b'excus'd, and, with a curs'd half-witted fate, to grow more dully desperate, the more 't is made a common prey, and cheated foppishly at play, is their condition, Fate betrays to Folly first, and then destroys. For what but miracles can serve so great a madness to preserve, as his, that ventures goods and chattels (where there's no quarter giv'n) in battles, and knights with moneybags as bold, as men with sandbags did of old; puts lands, and tenements, and stocks, into a paltry juggler's box; and, like an alderman of Gotham, embarketh in so vile a bottom; engages blind and senseless hap 'gainst high, and low, and slur, and knap,, (as Tartars with a man of straw encounter lions hand to paw) with those that never venture more than they 'ad safely' ensur'd before who, when they knock the box, and shake, do, like the Indian rattlesnake, but strive to ruin and destroy those that mistake it for fair play; can tell the oddses of all games, and when to answer to their names; and, when he conjures them t' appear, like imps are ready ev'ry where; when to play foul, and when run fair (out of design) upon the square, and let the greedy cully win, only to draw him further in; while those with which he idly plays, have no regard to what he says, although he jernie and blaspheme, when they miscarry, heav'n and them, and damn his soul, and swear, and crucify his Saviour worse and curse than those Jew-troopers that threw out, their judgment rather than his own; |