ed to a good old age, admired by all, though
personally known but to few, he died September 25, 1680, and was
buried at the expence of his good friend Mr. Longueville of the
Temple, in the church-yard of St. Paul's Covent-Garden. Mr.
Longueville had a strong inclination to have him buried in Westminster
Abbey, and spoke with that view to several persons who had been his
admirers, offering to pay his part, but none of them would contribute;
upon which he was interred privately, Mr. Longueville, and seven or
eight more, following him to the grave. Mr. Alderman Barber erected a
monument to Butler in Westminster-Abbey.

The poem entitled Hudibras, by which he acquired so high a reputation,
was published at three different times; the first part came out in
1668 in 8vo. afterwards came out the second part, and both were
printed together, with several additions, and annotations; at last,
the third and last part was published, but without any annotations, as
appears by the printed copy 1678. The great success and peculiarity of
manner of this poem has produced many unsuccessful imitations of it,
and some vain attempts have been made to translate some parts of it
into Latin. Monsieur Voltaire gives it a very good character, and
justly observes, that though there are as many thoughts as words in
it, yet it cannot be successfully translated, on account of every
line's having some allusion to English affairs, which no foreigner can
be supposed to understand, or enter into. The Oxford antiquary
ascribes to our author two pamphlets, supposed falsely, he says, to be
William Prynne's; the one entitled Mola Asinaria, or the Unreasonable
and Insupportable Burthen pressed upon the Shoulders of this Groaning
Nation, London 1659, in one sheet 4to. the other, Two Letters: One
from John Audland, a Quaker, to William Prynne; the other, Prynne's
Answer, in three sheets fol. 1672. The life writer mentions a small
poem in one sheet in 4to. on Du Val, a notorious highwayman, said to
be written by Butler. These pieces, with a great many others, are
published together, under the title of his Posthumous Works. The life
writer abovementioned has preserved a fragment of Mr. Butler's, given
by one whom he calls the ingenious Mr. Aubrey, who assured him he had
it from the poet himself; it is indeed admirable, and the satire
sufficiently pungent against the priests.

No jesuit e'er took in hand
To plant a church in barren land;
Nor ever thought i