Or is it the Mathematics of Poetry(?)
Describing Good-man*
Was never man in thofe dominions,
About whofe legs were more opinions.
Firft, there are many who avow,
They were like an inverted V; 210
And other fome do ftiffly jangle,
That they and thighs make a quadrangle.
Some think, that thighs joining, they gape,
In circular or oval fhape.
And other fome there are who avouch
Them femi-circles in a touch:
And other fome there are who tells,
They?re femi-circle parallels.
But thofe who on them better look?d,
Say one was ftraight, the other crook?d; 220
Not as in touching they did make
That famous angle of contact,
Which Euclid?s demonstration fhows,
If in their juncture you put ftraws.
The truth is, they in ev?ry thing
Refemble do a bow and ftring:
The one ftraight to the other bending,
Is like a chord an arch fubtending:
In which fcheme if ye draw fome lines,
Ye may have fecants, tangents, figns, 230
Which ale-pot meas?ring much enables,
By help of logarithmic tables:
Which queftions fooneft to decide,
For by fubtraction they divide,
And multiplieth by addition,
As now doth Popifh fuperftition,
Which multiplieth ev?ry day,
Having fome added to its way.
* Colvil describes Good-man; setting the stage for the debate between Good-man and his squire on who should go to London to present the Supplication to Charles II, to correct injustices from Cromwell, show support for the Monarchy and plead for Presbyterians right to practice their religion. The Whigs Supplication, or the Scots Hudibras a Mock Poem, in two parts by Samuel Colvil, St. Andrews, is an example of Hudibrastic verse popular at the time. (Printed by and for James Morison, Printer to the University) 1796. (The poem was supposedly written in 1665, but published in 1680 at about the time of Samuel Colvil?s death.)
When Samuel Colvil wrote his satire following the brief reign of Oliver Cromwell, he used the four E?s of writing most effectively. (Excite, Entertain, Educate and End) Title of the piece is Scot Hudibras which at the time caught attention of the reading public because Samuel Butler?s Hudibras was read by everyone and quoted widely (EXCITE). His description of the main character, Goodman, was a bit Quixote and a bit Hudibras. (ENTERTAIN). The message or ?Supplication? asking the King for mercy or at least understanding (EDUCATE). And, in addressing Charles II, the squire pledged support to the King and asked for freedom from the Catholic Church so that the Presbyterians could practice their religion as they may. (END).
The reader is referred to Hudibras in the Burlesque Tradition, Edward Ames Richards, Octagon Books, New York, 1972. pp 59, for a well written description of Colville?s (sic) poem.
Samuel Pepys? Diary of Samuel Pepys provides a background for the events of the day when London was destroyed by fire and when the last great Plague was visited upon England. Devoe?s Plague Years is also often cited as a reference.
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