366 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



book translated by him, and afterwards published) it may 

 be sufficient to say, that for degrading sublime poetry into 

 doggerel, Scarron's example is no authority ; and that were 

 the merit of this practice greater than many men think it, 

 those who admire the wit, the humour, and the learning of 

 " Hudibras," cannot but be disgusted at the low buffoonery, 

 the forced wit, and coarseness and obscenity of the " Virgil 

 Travestie ;" and yet the poem has its admirers, is commended 

 by Sir John Suckling in his " Session of the Poets," and has 

 passed fourteen editions. 



Soon after he engaged in a more commendable employ- 

 ment, a translation of the " History of the Life of the Duke 

 d'Espernon," from 1598, where D'Avila's History ends, to 

 1642, in twelve books ; in which undertaking he was inter- 

 rupted by an appointment to some place or post, which he 

 hints at in the preface, but did not hold long ; as also by a 

 sickness that delayed the publication until 1670, when the 

 book came out in a folio volume, with a handsome dedica- 

 tion to Dr. Gilbert Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury. 



In the same year, being the fortieth of his age, and having 

 been honoured with a captain's commission in the army, he 

 was drawn by some occasion of business or interest to visit 

 Ireland ; which event he has recorded, with some particular 

 circumstances touching the course of his life, in a burlesque 

 poem, called " A Voyage to Ireland," carelessly written, but 

 abounding in humorous description, as will appear by th( 

 following extract therefrom : 



A guide I had got, who demanded great vails 

 For conducting me over the mountains of Wales ; 

 Twenty good shillings, which sure very large is, 

 Yet that would not serve, but I must bear his charges ; 



