aces and employment from lord chancellor Clarendon,
but, as if poor Butler had been doomed to misfortunes, these proved[2]
meer court promises. Mr. Butler in short, affords a remarkable
instance of that coldness and neglect, which great genius's often
experience from the court and age in which they live; we are told
indeed by a gentleman, whose father was intimate with Butler, Charles
Longueville, Esq; that Charles II. once gave him a gratuity of three
hundred pounds, which had this compliment attending it, that it passed
all the offices without any fee, lord Danby being at that time high
treasurer, which seems to be the only court favour he ever received; a
strange instance of neglect! when we consider King Charles was so
excessive fond of this poem of Hudibras; that he carried it always in
his pocket, he quoted it almost on every occasion, and never mentioned
it, but with raptures.

This is movingly represented in a poem of our author's, published in
his remains called Hudibras at Court. He takes occasion to justify his
poem, by hinting its excellences in general, and paying a few modest
compliments to himself, of which we shall transcribe the following
lines.

Now you must know, sir Hudibras,
With such perfections gifted was,
And so peculiar in his manner,
That all that saw him did him honour;
Amongst the rest, this prince was one,
Admired his conversation:
This prince, whose ready wit, and parts
Conquer'd both men and women's hearts;
Was so o'ercome with knight and Ralph,
That he could never claw it off.
He never eat, nor drank, nor slept,
But Hudibras still near him kept;
Nor would he go to church or so,
But Hudibras must with him go;
Nor yet to visit concubine,
Or at a city feast to dine,
But Hudibras must still be there,
Or all the fat was in the fire.
Now after all was it not hard,
That he should meet with no reward,
That fitted out the knight and squire,
This monarch did so much admire?
That he should never reimburse
The man for th' equipage and horse,
Is sure a strange ungrateful thing
In any body, but a King.
But, this good King, it seems was told
By some, that were with him too bold,
If e'er you hope to gain your ends,
Caress your foes, and trust your friends.
Such were the doctrines that were taught,
'Till this unthinking King was brought
To leave his friends to starve and die;
A poor reward for loyalty.

After having liv