Note 1 — Chapter III
Reading edition
62:1 Butler’s lines, A Description of Holland, are very like Marvell’s:—
“A Country that draws fifty foot of water In which men live as in a hold of nature. ... ... They dwell in ships, like swarms of rats, and prey Upon the goods all nations’ fleets convey; ... ... That feed like cannibals on other fishes, And serve their cousin-germans up in dishes: A land that rides at anchor and is moor’d, In which they do not live but go aboard.”
Marvell and Butler were rival wits, but Holland was a common butt; so powerful a motive is trade jealousy.