# Hudibras/An Heroical Epistle of Hudibras to Sidrophel

AN HEROICAL EPISTLE
OF
HUDIBRAS TO SIDROPHEL.
Ecce iterum Crispinus.
* ↑ This Epistle was not published till many years after the preceding canto, and does not refer to the character there described. Sidrophel in the poem is, most probably, William Lilly, the astrologer and almanack-maker. But the Sidrophel of this Epistle is said to have been Sir Paul Neile, a conceited virtuoso, and member of the Royal Society. See note on line 86, post. The name Sidrophel had become proverbial for ignorance and imposture, when the Epistle was written.
* ↑ A surgical operation to remove part of the skull when it presses upon the brain. It was said to restore the understanding, and in that sense proposed as a remedy for the disorder with which Dean Swift was afflicted.
* ↑ Genesis xlix. 14: "Issachar is a strong ass, couching down between two burdens."
* ↑ See Part III. Canto II. 841, and note.
* ↑ In former times, and indeed until the beginning of the present century, the earliest peas brought to the London market came from Hastings, where they were grown, it may be said forced, in exhausted lime-pits. These used to be cried about the streets by hawkers with stentorian voice, "Green-hastings O." In Butler's time these hawkers may have helped their lungs with a speaking pipe, in which case this passage would point at Sir Samuel Borland's speaking-trumpet, then recently invented.
* ↑ Drum-heads, that is, the drum of your ears.
* ↑ i.e. is it possible that you should persuade yourself?
* ↑ That is, pounded. "Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him." Prov. xxvii. 22.
* ↑ In the last century some scientific members of the Royal Society made experiments in transfusing the blood of one animal into the veins of another; and, according to their account, the operation produced beneficial effects. It was even performed on human subjects. Dr Mackenzie has described the process in his History of Health, p. 431. Sir Edmund King, a favourite of Charles II., was among the philosophers of his time who made this famous experiment. See Phil. Trans, abr iii. 224. The lines from v. 39 to 59 allude to various projects of the first establishers of the Royal Society. See Birch's History of that body, vol. i. 303, vol. ii. 48, et seq. That makes fools cattle, i. e. fools for admitting the blood of cattle into their veins.
* ↑ A curious story is told from Giraldus Cambrensis, of a sow that was suckled by a bitch, and acquired the sagacity of a hound or spaniel. See Butler's Remains, vol. i. p. 12.
* ↑ On the first establishment of the Royal Society, some of the members engaged in the investigation of these and similar subjects. The Society was incorporated July 15, 1662.
* ↑ The scheme proposed by the Socicry, was probably the cart to go with legs instead of wheels, mentioned Part III. Canto I. line 1563; or perhaps the famous sailing chariot of Stevinus, which was moved by sails, and carried twenty-eight passengers, over the sands of Scheveling, fourteen Dutch miles (nearly fifty-four English), in two hours.
* ↑ That is, to follow you close at the heels.
* ↑ See Butler's Genuine Remains, vol, ii. p. 188. His want of judgement inclines him naturally to the most extravagant undertakings, like that of making old dogs young; corking up of words in bottles," &c.
* ↑ Though the Royal Society removed from Gresham college on account of the fire of London, it returned there again 1674, being the year in which this Epistle was published.
* ↑ Nash thinks that the character of Sidrophet, in this Epistle, was designed for Sir Paul Neile, who had offended Mr Butler by saying that he was not the author of Hudibras. And this opinion is confirmed by Mr Thyer, who, in Butler's Remains, says "he can assure the reader, upon the poet's own authority, that the character of Sidrophel was intended for a picture of Sir Paul Neile, son of Richard Neile (whose father was a chandler in Westminster), who, as Anthony Wood says, went through all degrees and orders in the church, school-master, curate, vicar, &c. &c., and at last was archbishop of York." Sir Paul was one of the first establishers of the Royal Society, which, in the dawn of science, listening to many things that appeared trifling and incredible to the generality of the people, became the butt and sport of the wits of the time.
* ↑ All incredible stories are now measured by your standard. One German mile is equal to five English miles.
* ↑ Var. Destroys in some early editions.
* ↑ See Butler's Character of an Impudent Man. "He that is impudent, is like a merchant who trades upon his credit without a stock, and if his debts were known, would break immediately."