THE NEW SCIENCE AND POETRY 117 



To explicate, by subtle hints, 

 The grain of diamonds and flints; 

 And in the braying of an ass 

 Find out the treble and the bass ; 

 If mares neigh alto, and a cow 

 A double diapason low". 35 



In general, Butler's attitude is severely satirical. He finds 

 nothing to praise in the new interest. To him all scientific learn 

 ing is "but a corn or wart in the skin of Judgment, Sense, and 

 Art"; 36 scientific apparatus consists of "Gimcracks, Whims, Jig- 

 gumbobs ' ' ; 37 and the whole result of scientific study is "to crack a 

 man's brain in plodding on to know that which is never to be 

 known". 38 Whether his judgment admitted the truth of any of the 

 new discoveries cannot be determined. He seems in real doubt 

 about the motion of the earth, 



"The motions of the earth or sun 



(The Lord knows which) that turn or run". 39 

 But this is as near a serious position as he ever attained. The rest 

 is mockery. 



Hudibras, as is well known, was immensely popular. Even 

 the king read it, laughed over it and quoted it. The author was 

 praised; preferment seemed at hand; and then he was neglected. 

 Such, it would appear, was the general effect of this satire. "What 

 effect," wrote Dr. Johnson, "this poem had upon the publick, 

 whether it showed imposture or reclaimed credulity, is not easily 

 determined. Cheats can seldom stand long against laughter. It 

 is certain that the credit of planetary intelligence wore fast away." 40a 

 But it has already been shown that another force was at work des 

 troying the pseudo-science of astrology, i. e. the search for natural 

 causes. Butler was keenly aware of the hypocrisy in this busi 

 ness and was justified in his presentation of Sidrophel and 

 Whachum. His mistake, however, was to let his personal feeling 



K A Satire Upon the Royal Society, 85-104. 



Hudibras, Pt. Ill, c. 1, 108-9. 



37 Upon Human Learning. 



88 A Fragment. 



80 Sat. upon Weaknesses and Misery of Man. 



< a Johnson, Samuel, Lives of the Poets, I, p. 216. 



