Saturday Rave: Hudibras by Samuel Butler

Sir Hudibras, the hero (sort of) of Samuel Butler's eponymous poem, is a pompous and hypocritical idiot. 

The poem was written soon after Britain decided that, although kings were basically ridiculous and occasionally dangerous, they were on the whole more fun than any other system of government. (The British had recently tried giving someone else a go at being in charge, and he'd gone and abolished Christmas and even the jollier kinds of church music).

This was in the middle of the 1600s.

Quite a lot of Hudibras is, naturally, rather out-of-date. But some things (the difficulties of courtship, in this case) never change.

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,
By you turn'd out to grass with cattle:
For since I am den'd access
To all my earthly happiness
Am fallen from the paradise
Of your good graces, and fair eyes;
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.

Is there a happy ending?

Well, the lady's reply begins:

That you're a beast, and turn'd to grass,
Is no strange news, nor ever was...

..so that would be a no, then.

Still, to look on the bright side, that does leave her free for someone less stupid, doesn't it.

Word To Use Today: hubris. Hubris is a Greek word. It describes the arrogance and pride which lead to a character's ruin.