Hudibras Sallying Forth, plate two from Hudibras

William Hogarth illustrated the story of a sad-sack adventurer named Hudibras in twelve engravings. His source was Samuel Butler’s satirical, mock-heroic poem written in the vein of Cervantes and Rabelais. Ridiculing the puritan party’s attempts to overthrow the British monarchy during the Great Civil War of 1640, Butler’s poem exposes the hypocrisy and pretensions of the Presbyterians, Independents, and Zealots who hoped to establish themselves as leaders.Hudibras’ grand departure into the world appears to be neither impressive, nor particularly noble, from the point of view of the frightened fruit seller at the lower right of this print. Accompanied, Don Quixote-like, by a single squire, the paunchy ruffian is hardly a grand knight sallying forth. He barely seems to be aware of where he is going, and appears unable to stay upright on his overtaxed horse.