Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

barraffes him with abfurd distreffes, he gives him fo much fenfe and virtue as may preferve our esteem: wherever he is, or whatever he does, he is made by matchlefs dexterity commonly ridiculous, but never contemptible.

But for poor Hudibras, his poet had no tenderness he chufes not that any pity fhould be fhewn or refpect paid him: he gives him up at once to laughter and contempt, without any quality that can dignify or protect him.

In forming the character of Hudibras, and describing his person and habiliments, the author feems to labour with a tumultuous confufion of diffimilar ideas. He had read the history of the mock knights errant; he knew the notions

and.

and manners of a prefbyterian magiftrate, and tried to unite the abfurdities of both, however diftant, in one perfonage. Thus he gives him that pe-dantick oftentation of knowledge which has no relation to chivalry, and loads him with martial encumbrances that can add nothing to his civil dignity. He fends him out a colonelling, and yet never brings him within fight of war.

If Hudibras be confidered as the representative of the Prefbyterians, it is not easy to say why his weapons fhould be represented as ridiculous or useless; for, whatever judgement might be paffed upon their knowledge or their arguments, experience had fufficiently shown

[blocks in formation]

that their fwords were not to be de

fpifed.

The hero, thus compounded of fwaggerer and pedant, of knight and juftice, is led forth to action, with his squire Ralpho, an Independant enthufiaft.

Of the contexture of events planned by the author, which is called the action of the poem, fince it is left imperfect, no judgement can be made. It is probable that the hero was to be led through many many luckless adventures, which would give occafion, like his attack upon the bear and fiddle, to expose the ridiculous rigour of the fectaries; like his encounter with Sidrophel and Whacum, to make fuperftition and credulity contemptible; or, like his recourfe

to

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

that their fwords were not to be de

fpifed.

The hero, thus compounded of fwaggerer and pedant, of knight and justice, is led forth to action, with his fquire Ralpho, an Independant enthufiaft.

Of the contexture of events planned by the author, which is called the action of the poem, fince it is left imperfect, no judgement can be made. It is probable that the hero was to be led through many lucklefs adventures, which would give occafion, like his attack upon the bear and fiddle, to expose the ridiculous rigour of the fectaries; like his encounter with Sidrophel and Whacum, to make fuperftition and credulity contemptible; or, like his recourfe

to

« ПредишнаНапред »