The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

701
Salad," and an epigram, we have found no comic verses by him. He
"leaked another way."
SOUTHEY, ROBERT--The English poet and man of letters; born in 1774.
Southey wrote a great deal of humorous verse, much of which is
ingenious and fluent. He was amazingly dexterous in the use of words,
and excelled all his cotemporaries, except Byron and Barham, in the
art of rhyming.
SWIFT, JONATHAN--Dean of St. Patrick's. Dublin. Born 1667; died, 1739.
It were superfluous to speak of the career or abilities of this great
but most unhappy man, who unquestionably ranks highest amid the
brilliant names of that brilliant epoch. His works speak for him, and
will to all time. Of his poetical writings it may be said that though
only surpassed in wit and humor by his more universally known prose,
they are infinitely NASTIER than any thing else in the English
language. They have, however, the negative virtue of being nowise
licentious or demoralizing--or at least no more so than is inseparable
from the choice of obscene and repulsive subjects. Nearly all his
unobjectionable comic verses may be found in this volume.
THACKERAY, WILLIAM MAKEPEACE--The greatest of living satirists. Born at
Calcutta of English parents, in 1811. Most of Mr. Thackeray's comic
verses appeared originally in "Punch" They have recently been collected
and published in a volume with other and more serious pieces. This
collection contains nothing more mirth-provoking than the "Ballads of
Pleaceman X," by Mr. Thackeray.
WAKE, WILLIAM BASIL--An English writer, contributor to "Hone's Every
Day Book."
WALLER, EDMUND--Born in Warwickshire, England, in 1608. Poet, man of
fortune, member of the Long Parliament, and traitor to the People's
Cause. He was fined ten thousand pounds and banished, but Cromwell
permitted his return, and the poet rewarded his clemency by a
panegyric.
WESLEY, REV. SAMUEL--A clergyman of the Church of England; father of
the celebrated John Wesley; author of a volume of poems, entitled
"Maggots;" born in 1662; died in 1785.