Quotes:Butler, Samuel

Zirkoff, Boris

Butler (or Boteler), Samuel. English satirical poet, b. at Strensham, Feb. 8, 1612; d. in London, Sept. 25, 1680. Educ. at the King’s school, Worcester, after which he served as a justice’s clerk. Recommended to Elizabeth, Countess of Kent, he had access in her home to a good library and met there John Selden who employed him as secretary. He lived for a long time at the home of Sir Samuel Luke, commander under Cromwell, who appears to have been the original for the chief character in Butler’s poem 361 *Hudibras, first part of which appeared in 1663, and won him great renown. A satire on the Puritans, its wit and wisdom are applicable, however, to any age and people. After the Restoration, Butler was appointed secretary to Richard Vaughan, lord president of the principality of Wales. He wrote a considerable number of other satirical poems, but in spite of his renown led a life of indigence and was buried at the expense of a friend.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 7, pp. 360-361