Hudibras Vanquish'd and Protected by Trulla (Plate 5: Illustrations to Samuel Butler's Hudibras) 1725 - 1730

This etching, part of a series illustrating Samuel Butler's *Hudibras*, depicts a scene from the poem. In *Hudibras Vanquish'd and Protected by Trulla*, the protagonist, Hudibras, is being beaten by a group of men. Trulla, a woman, stands between them, protecting Hudibras by brandishing his sword. The scene is set in a rural landscape with a bridge in the background, emphasizing the comic and slightly absurd nature of the scene. Created in the early 18th century by English artist William Hogarth, this print is characteristic of the genre of satirical illustration and is a fine example of Hogarth’s distinctive style.