252 ROBERT POCOCK. 



In his poverty and dejection there is evidence that 

 our author formed the design of writing his auto- 

 biography, the record of his life, its pleasures and its 

 trials (indeed he interpolates as much in the above 

 Preface, see p. 243). Of this there have been collected 

 snatches and extracts such as the following, but they 

 are few and meagre; still their reference to himself 

 is sufficiently shown by the prefix of et Pocock's Life," 

 in his own hand : 



" POCOCK'S LIFE. 



" How happy is he born or taught 

 That serveth not another's will ; 

 Whose armour is his honest thought, 

 And simple truth his utmost skill." 



These lines are very characteristic of the indepen- 

 dence, not to say impatience of character, which 

 Pocock exhibited throughout his career, and which is 

 often indicative of that struggle for leisure and means 

 of study against which he had ever to contend. 

 Impecuniosity carried with it then greater and more 

 formidable consequences than now exist, and the 

 actual confinement for debt was not a contingency 

 which poor Pocock could exclude from his thoughts. 

 In another extract, headed by him with the words 

 " Pocock's Life," we find the following : 



" POCOCK'S LIFE. 

 " A prison is a place of care, 



Wherein no man can thrive ; 

 A touchstone sure to try a friend, 

 A grave for men alive. 



" Mem. I think this verse was written by Mr. 

 Cotton, when confined in gaol." 



