clxxiv LIFE OF 



other pieces. 7 It is most likely that many of his poems were 

 written about this period ; and it is nearly certain that the one in 

 which he gives the fullest and most interesting account of himself, 

 namely, " A Voyage to Ireland in Burlesque," was composed about 

 the year 1670 or 1671, because he says he was then forty years 

 old. For this reason it is desirable to insert several extracts 

 from it, the length of which is justified by the humorous descrip- 

 tions which they contain of his history, situation, and feelings. 

 Cotton had, it appears, before that time entered the army, in which 

 he then held a captain's commission ; and being sent to Ireland, 

 he describes his journey from Beresford to the place of embarka- 

 tion in Wales. 



His narrative thus commences : 



" The lives of frail men are compar'd by the sages, 

 Or unto short journeys, or pilgrimages, 

 As men to their inns do come sooner or later, 

 That is, to their ends, to be plain in my matter ; 

 From whence, when one dead is, it currently follows, 

 He has run his race, though his goal be the gallows ; 

 And this 'tis, I fancy, sets folks so a-madding, 

 And makes men and women so eager of gadding ; 

 Truth is, in my 5'outh I was one of those people 

 Would have gone a great way to have seen a high steeple, 

 And though I was bred 'mong the wonder o' th' Peak, 

 Would have thrown away money, and ventur'd my neck 

 To have seen a great hill, a rock, or a cave, 

 And thought there was nothing so pleasant and brave ; 

 But at forty years old you may, if you please, 

 Think me wiser than run such errands as these ; 

 Or, had the same humour still ran in my toes, 

 A voyage to Ireland, I ne'er should have chose: 

 But to tell you the truth on't, indeed it was neither 

 Improvement nor pleasure for which I went thither; 

 I know then you'll presently ask me, for what ? 

 Why, faith, it was that makes the old woman trot ; 

 And therefore I think I'm not much to be blam'd 

 If I went to the place whereof Nick was asham'd." 



Among his regrets at taking leave of his home, his favourite 

 pursuit of Angling is not forgotten : 



"And now farewell, Dove, where I've caught such brave dishes 

 Of over-grown, golden, and silver-scal'd fishes : 

 Thy trout and thy grayling may now feed securely, 

 I've left none behind me can take 'em so surely ; 

 Feed on, then, and breed on, until the next year, 

 But if I return I expect my arrear." 



Of the ale which he drank at Holmes-Chapel, he observes, 



" I speak it with tears, 



Though I have been a toss-pot these twenty good years, 

 And have drank so much liquor has made me a debtor, 

 In my days, that I know of, I never drank better." 



7 Vide Cotton's Poems, ed. 1689, pp. 86, 128, 129. 



