The Humorous Poetry of the English Language; from Chaucer to SaxeIntroductory materialReading editionChapter navigation157 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…Front matterPREFACE.INDEX.Introductory materialMISCELLANEOUS.THE LISBON PACKET. BYRON.RINGS AND SEALS. THOMAS MOORE.MY LETTERS. R. HARRIS BARHAM.SPRING.SCHOOL AND SCHOOL-FELLOWS. W. MACKWORTH PRAED.THE VICAR. W. MACKWORTH PRAEDCOME OUT, LOVE. N. P. WILLIS.YOU KNOW IF IT WAS YOU N. P. WILLIS.TO HELEN IN A HUFF. N. P. WILLISTHE HEIGHT OF THE RIDICULOUS. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.TAKE THY OLD CLOAK ABOUT THEE [OLD BALLAD, QUOTED BY SHAKSPEARE, IN OTHELLO.] PERCY RELIQUESTHE BAFFLED KNIGHT, OR LADY'S POLICY [A VERY FAVORITE ANCIENT BALLAD.] PERCY RELIQUESJULIA. SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.PART I.PART II.PART III.PART IV.SIR RUPERT THE FEARLESS. A LEGEND OF GERMANY. R. HARRIS BARHAMDAME FREDEGONDE. WILLIAM AYTOUS.THE RABBLE: OR, WHO PAYS! SAMUEL BUTLER.THE PROGRESS OF POETRY. DEAN SWIFTA NEW SIMILE FOR THE LADIES. WITH USEFUL ANNOTATIONS, DR. THOMAS SHERIDAN.A NEW SIMILE FOR THE LADIES. WITH USEFUL ANNOTATIONS, DR. THOMAS SHERIDAN. (continued 2)FAMILY POETRY. R. HARRIS BARHAMTHE SUNDAY QUESTION. THOMAS HOOD.DEATH'S RAMBLE. THOMAS HOOD.ON SAMUEL ROGERS. LORD BYRON.MY PARTNER. W. MACKWORTH PRAED.THE BELLE OF THE BALL. W. MACKWORTH PRAED.SORROWS OF WERTHER. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.THE YANKEE VOLUNTEERS. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.COURTSHIP AND MATRIMONY. A POEM, IN TWO CANTOS. PUNCH.CONCERNING SISTERS-IN-LAW. PUNCH. I.TO SONG-BIRDS ON A SUNDAY. PUNCH.THE FIRST SENSIBLE VALENTINE. (ONE OF THE MOST ASTONISHING FRUITS OF THE EMIGRATION MANIA.) PUNCH.A SCENE ON THE AUSTRIAN FRONTIER. PUNCH.ODE TO THE GREAT SEA-SERPENT ON HIS WONDERFUL REAPPEARANCE. PUNCH.KINDRED QUACKS. PUNCH.THE RAILWAY TRAVELER'S FAREWELL TO HIS FAMILY. PUNCH.A LETTER AND AN ANSWER. PUNCH.PAPA TO HIS HEIR, A FAST MINOR. PUNCH.WONDERS OF THE VICTORIAN AGE. PUNCH.TO THE PORTRAIT OF "A GENTLEMAN," IN THE ATHENAEUM GALLERY. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.MY AUNT. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.COMIC MISERIES. JOHN G. SAXE.THE LAY OF THE LOVER'S FRIEND WILLIAM AYTOUNPARODIES AND BURLESQUESODE ON SCIENCE. DEAN SWIFT.A DESCRIPTION OF A CITY SHOWER IN IMITATION OP VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. DEAN SWIFT.THE PROGRESS OF CURIOSITY; OR A ROYAL VISIT TO WHITBKEAD'S BREWERY. PETER PINDAR.INSCRIPTIONTHE LOVE ELEGIES OF ABEL SHUFFLEBOTTOM. ROBERT SOUTHEY.PLAY-HOUSE MUSINGS. A BURLESQUE IMITATION OF COLERIDGE.—REJECTED ADDRESSES. JAMES SMITHDRURY'S DIRGE. [BY LAUBA MATILDA.—REJECTED ADDRESSES.] HORACE SMITH.WHAT IS LIFE BY "ONE OF THE FANCY." BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINEFRAGMENTS. [BY A FREE-LOVER.] BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, 1823THE MILLING-MATCH BETWEEN ENTELLUS AND DARES. TRANSLATED FROM THE FIFTH BOOK OF THE AENEID, BY ONE OF THE FANCY. THOMAS MOORE.RAISING THE DEVIL. A LEGEND OF CORNELIUS AGRIPPA. R. HARRIS BARHAM.DOMESTIC POEMS. THOMAS HOOD. I.A THEATRICAL CURIOSITY. CRUIKSHANK'S OMNIBUS.THE SECRET SORROW. PUNCHSONG FOR PUNCH DRINKERS. AFTER SCHILLER. PUNCH.THE SONG OF THE HUMBUGGED HUSBAND. PUNCH.TEMPERANCE SONG. PUNCH. AIR—FRIEND OF MY SOUL.LINESMADNESS. PUNCH.LINES WRITTEN AFTER A BATTLE. BY AN ASSISTANT SURGEON OF THE NINETEENTH NANKEENS. PUNCH.THE CHEMIST TO HIS LOVE. PUNCH.A BALLAD OF BEDLAM. PUNCH.STANZAS TO AN EGG. [BY A SPOON.] PUNCH.A FRAGMENT. PUNCH.EATING SONG. PUNCH.THE SICK CHILD. [BY THE HONOBABLE WILHELMINA SKEGGS.] PUNCH.MONODY ON THE DEATH OF AN ONLY CLIENT. PUNCH.PARODY FOR A REFORMED PARLIAMENT. PUNCH.DRAMA FOR EVERY-DAY LIFE. LUDGATE HILL.—A MYSTERY. PUNCH.JONES AT THE BARBER'S SHOP. PUNCH.THE SATED ONE. [IMPROMPTU AFTER CHRISTMAS DINNER.] PUNCH."A BOOK IN A BUSTLE." A TRUE TALE OF THE WARWICK ASSIZES. BY THE GHOST OF CRABBE. PUNCH.COLLOQUY ON A CAB-STAND. ADAPTED FOR THE BOUDOIR. PUNCH.THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. AN ENGLISH CRITICISM PUNCH.THE BITER BIT. WILLIAM AYTOUN.THE BATTLE OF THE BOULEVARD WILLIAM AYTOUN.PUFFS POETICAL. WILLIAM AYTOUMREFLECTIONS OF A PROUD PEDESTRIAN. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMESEVENING. BY A TAILOR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMESPHAETHON; OR, THE AMATEUR COACHMAN. JOHN G. SAXXEPIGRAMS OF BEN JONSON.EPIGRAMATIC VERSES BY SAMUEL BUTLER.EPIGRAMS OF EDMUND WALLEB.EPIGRAMS OF MATTHEW PRIOR.EPIGRAMS OF JOSEPH ADDISON. THE COUNTESS OF MANCHESTER.EPIGRAMS OF ALEXANDER POPE.EPIGRAMS OF DEAN SWIFT.PAULUS THE LAWYER. LINDSAY.EPIGRAMS BY THOMAS SHERIDAN.WHICH IS WHICH. BYRON.ON SOME LINES OF LOPEZ DE VEGA. DR. JOHNSON.ON SCOTLAND. CLEVELAND.EPIGRAMS OF PETER PINDAR.EPIGRAMS BY ROBERT BURNS.EPIGRAMS FROM THE GERMAN OF LESSING.EPIGRAMS S. T. COLERIDGE.TO MR. ALEXANDRE, THE VENTRILOQUIST. SIR WALTER SCOTT.FRENCH AND ENGLISH. ERSKINEEPIGRAMS BY THOMAS MOORE.ON BUTLER'S MONUMENT. REV. SAMUEL WESLEY.ON THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE WHIG ASSOCIATES OP THE PRINCE REGENT, AT NOT OBTAINING OFFICE. CHARLES LAMB.ON LORD DUDLEY AND WARD. SAMUEL ROGERSEPIGRAMS OF LORD BYRON.EPIGRAMS OF BARHAM.EPIGRAMS BY THOMAS HOOD.EPIGRAMS BY W. SAVAGE LANDORTHE EMPTY BOTTLE. WILLIAM AYTOUNEPIGRAMS BY JOHN G. SAXE.A REVOLUTIONARY HERO. JAMES RUSSELL LOWELLEPIGRAMS OF HALPINTHE JOVIAL PRIEST'S CONFESSION. TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN OF WALTER DE MAPES, TIME OF HENRY II. LEIGH HUNT.TONIS AD RESTO MARE. ANONYMOUSDIC. DEAN SWIFT.MOLL. DEAN SWIFT.A GENTLE ECHO ON WOMAN.TO MY NOSE. ANONYMOUS.ROGER AND DOLLY. BLACKWOOD.THE IRISHMAN. BLACKWOOD.A _CAT_ALECTIC MONODY! CRUIKSHANK'S OMNIBUS.A NEW SONG OF NEW SIMILES. JOHN BAYREMINISCENCES OP A SENTIMENTALIST. THOMAS HOOD.FAITHLESS NELLY GRAY. A PATHETIC BALLAD. THOMAS HOOD.NO! THOMAS HOOD.JACOB OMNIUM'S HOSS A NEW PALLICE COURT CHANT. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAYTHE BALLAD OF ELIZA DAVIS. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAYTHE LAMENTABLE BALLAD OF THE FOUNDLING OF SHOREDITCH. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.THE CRYSTAL PALACE. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.LETTERA LETTERTHE CANDIDATE'S CREED. (BIGLOW PAPERS.) JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.THE COURTIN'. JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.A SONG FOR A CATARRH. PUNCHEPITAPH ON A CANDLE. PUNCH.POETRY ON AN IMPROVED PRINCIPLE. A RENCONTER WITH A TEA-TOTALLER. PUNCH.ON A REJECTED NOSEGAY, OFFERED BY THE AUTHOR TO A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY, WHO RETURNED IT. PUNCH.A SERENADE. PUNCH.AN INVITATION TO THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS PUNCH.THE PEOPLE AND THEIR PALACE. IMPROVISED BY A FINE GENTLEMAN. PUNCH.A "SWELL'S" HOMAGE TO MRS. STOWE PUNCH.THE EXCLUSIVE'S BROKEN IDOL. PUNCH.EPITAPH ON A LOCOMOTIVE. BY THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF A DEPLORABLE ACCIDENT (NO BLAME TO BE ATTACHED TO ANY SERVANTS OF THE COMPANY). PUNCH.THE TICKET OF LEAVE. [AS SUNG BY THE HOLDER, AMID A CONVIVIAL CIRCLE IN THE SLUMS.] PUNCH.A POLKA LYRIC. BARCLAY PHILLIPSA SUNNIT TO THE BIG OX.ENIGMATICPrevious chapter ←INDEX.Next chapter →MISCELLANEOUS.All chapters and sections (157)Opening pagesFront matterOther sectionsPREFACE.INDEX.Opening pagesIntroductory materialOther sectionsMISCELLANEOUS.THE LISBON PACKET. BYRON.RINGS AND SEALS. THOMAS MOORE.MY LETTERS. R. HARRIS BARHAM.SPRING.SCHOOL AND SCHOOL-FELLOWS. W. MACKWORTH PRAED.THE VICAR. W. MACKWORTH PRAEDCOME OUT, LOVE. N. P. WILLIS.YOU KNOW IF IT WAS YOU N. P. WILLIS.TO HELEN IN A HUFF. N. P. WILLISTHE HEIGHT OF THE RIDICULOUS. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.TAKE THY OLD CLOAK ABOUT THEE [OLD BALLAD, QUOTED BY SHAKSPEARE, IN OTHELLO.] PERCY RELIQUESTHE BAFFLED KNIGHT, OR LADY'S POLICY [A VERY FAVORITE ANCIENT BALLAD.] PERCY RELIQUESJULIA. SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.Parts1234Part 4 · Other sectionsSIR RUPERT THE FEARLESS. A LEGEND OF GERMANY. R. HARRIS BARHAMDAME FREDEGONDE. WILLIAM AYTOUS.THE RABBLE: OR, WHO PAYS! SAMUEL BUTLER.THE PROGRESS OF POETRY. DEAN SWIFTA NEW SIMILE FOR THE LADIES. WITH USEFUL ANNOTATIONS, DR. THOMAS SHERIDAN.A NEW SIMILE FOR THE LADIES. WITH USEFUL ANNOTATIONS, DR. THOMAS SHERIDAN. (continued 2)FAMILY POETRY. R. HARRIS BARHAMTHE SUNDAY QUESTION. THOMAS HOOD.DEATH'S RAMBLE. THOMAS HOOD.ON SAMUEL ROGERS. LORD BYRON.MY PARTNER. W. MACKWORTH PRAED.THE BELLE OF THE BALL. W. MACKWORTH PRAED.SORROWS OF WERTHER. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.THE YANKEE VOLUNTEERS. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.COURTSHIP AND MATRIMONY. A POEM, IN TWO CANTOS. PUNCH.CONCERNING SISTERS-IN-LAW. PUNCH. I.TO SONG-BIRDS ON A SUNDAY. PUNCH.THE FIRST SENSIBLE VALENTINE. (ONE OF THE MOST ASTONISHING FRUITS OF THE EMIGRATION MANIA.) PUNCH.A SCENE ON THE AUSTRIAN FRONTIER. PUNCH.ODE TO THE GREAT SEA-SERPENT ON HIS WONDERFUL REAPPEARANCE. PUNCH.KINDRED QUACKS. PUNCH.THE RAILWAY TRAVELER'S FAREWELL TO HIS FAMILY. PUNCH.A LETTER AND AN ANSWER. PUNCH.PAPA TO HIS HEIR, A FAST MINOR. PUNCH.WONDERS OF THE VICTORIAN AGE. PUNCH.TO THE PORTRAIT OF "A GENTLEMAN," IN THE ATHENAEUM GALLERY. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.MY AUNT. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.COMIC MISERIES. JOHN G. SAXE.THE LAY OF THE LOVER'S FRIEND WILLIAM AYTOUNPARODIES AND BURLESQUESODE ON SCIENCE. DEAN SWIFT.A DESCRIPTION OF A CITY SHOWER IN IMITATION OP VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. DEAN SWIFT.THE PROGRESS OF CURIOSITY; OR A ROYAL VISIT TO WHITBKEAD'S BREWERY. PETER PINDAR.INSCRIPTIONTHE LOVE ELEGIES OF ABEL SHUFFLEBOTTOM. ROBERT SOUTHEY.PLAY-HOUSE MUSINGS. A BURLESQUE IMITATION OF COLERIDGE.—REJECTED ADDRESSES. JAMES SMITHDRURY'S DIRGE. [BY LAUBA MATILDA.—REJECTED ADDRESSES.] HORACE SMITH.WHAT IS LIFE BY "ONE OF THE FANCY." BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINEFRAGMENTS. [BY A FREE-LOVER.] BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, 1823THE MILLING-MATCH BETWEEN ENTELLUS AND DARES. TRANSLATED FROM THE FIFTH BOOK OF THE AENEID, BY ONE OF THE FANCY. THOMAS MOORE.RAISING THE DEVIL. A LEGEND OF CORNELIUS AGRIPPA. R. HARRIS BARHAM.DOMESTIC POEMS. THOMAS HOOD. I.A THEATRICAL CURIOSITY. CRUIKSHANK'S OMNIBUS.THE SECRET SORROW. PUNCHSONG FOR PUNCH DRINKERS. AFTER SCHILLER. PUNCH.THE SONG OF THE HUMBUGGED HUSBAND. PUNCH.TEMPERANCE SONG. PUNCH. AIR—FRIEND OF MY SOUL.LINESMADNESS. PUNCH.LINES WRITTEN AFTER A BATTLE. BY AN ASSISTANT SURGEON OF THE NINETEENTH NANKEENS. PUNCH.THE CHEMIST TO HIS LOVE. PUNCH.A BALLAD OF BEDLAM. PUNCH.STANZAS TO AN EGG. [BY A SPOON.] PUNCH.A FRAGMENT. PUNCH.EATING SONG. PUNCH.THE SICK CHILD. [BY THE HONOBABLE WILHELMINA SKEGGS.] PUNCH.MONODY ON THE DEATH OF AN ONLY CLIENT. PUNCH.PARODY FOR A REFORMED PARLIAMENT. PUNCH.DRAMA FOR EVERY-DAY LIFE. LUDGATE HILL.—A MYSTERY. PUNCH.JONES AT THE BARBER'S SHOP. PUNCH.THE SATED ONE. [IMPROMPTU AFTER CHRISTMAS DINNER.] PUNCH."A BOOK IN A BUSTLE." A TRUE TALE OF THE WARWICK ASSIZES. BY THE GHOST OF CRABBE. PUNCH.COLLOQUY ON A CAB-STAND. ADAPTED FOR THE BOUDOIR. PUNCH.THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. AN ENGLISH CRITICISM PUNCH.THE BITER BIT. WILLIAM AYTOUN.THE BATTLE OF THE BOULEVARD WILLIAM AYTOUN.PUFFS POETICAL. WILLIAM AYTOUMREFLECTIONS OF A PROUD PEDESTRIAN. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMESEVENING. BY A TAILOR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMESPHAETHON; OR, THE AMATEUR COACHMAN. JOHN G. SAXXEPIGRAMS OF BEN JONSON.EPIGRAMATIC VERSES BY SAMUEL BUTLER.EPIGRAMS OF EDMUND WALLEB.EPIGRAMS OF MATTHEW PRIOR.EPIGRAMS OF JOSEPH ADDISON. THE COUNTESS OF MANCHESTER.EPIGRAMS OF ALEXANDER POPE.EPIGRAMS OF DEAN SWIFT.PAULUS THE LAWYER. LINDSAY.EPIGRAMS BY THOMAS SHERIDAN.WHICH IS WHICH. BYRON.ON SOME LINES OF LOPEZ DE VEGA. DR. JOHNSON.ON SCOTLAND. CLEVELAND.EPIGRAMS OF PETER PINDAR.EPIGRAMS BY ROBERT BURNS.EPIGRAMS FROM THE GERMAN OF LESSING.EPIGRAMS S. T. COLERIDGE.TO MR. ALEXANDRE, THE VENTRILOQUIST. SIR WALTER SCOTT.FRENCH AND ENGLISH. ERSKINEEPIGRAMS BY THOMAS MOORE.ON BUTLER'S MONUMENT. REV. SAMUEL WESLEY.ON THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE WHIG ASSOCIATES OP THE PRINCE REGENT, AT NOT OBTAINING OFFICE. CHARLES LAMB.ON LORD DUDLEY AND WARD. SAMUEL ROGERSEPIGRAMS OF LORD BYRON.EPIGRAMS OF BARHAM.EPIGRAMS BY THOMAS HOOD.EPIGRAMS BY W. SAVAGE LANDORTHE EMPTY BOTTLE. WILLIAM AYTOUNEPIGRAMS BY JOHN G. SAXE.A REVOLUTIONARY HERO. JAMES RUSSELL LOWELLEPIGRAMS OF HALPINTHE JOVIAL PRIEST'S CONFESSION. TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN OF WALTER DE MAPES, TIME OF HENRY II. LEIGH HUNT.TONIS AD RESTO MARE. ANONYMOUSDIC. DEAN SWIFT.MOLL. DEAN SWIFT.A GENTLE ECHO ON WOMAN.TO MY NOSE. ANONYMOUS.ROGER AND DOLLY. BLACKWOOD.THE IRISHMAN. BLACKWOOD.A _CAT_ALECTIC MONODY! CRUIKSHANK'S OMNIBUS.A NEW SONG OF NEW SIMILES. JOHN BAYREMINISCENCES OP A SENTIMENTALIST. THOMAS HOOD.FAITHLESS NELLY GRAY. A PATHETIC BALLAD. THOMAS HOOD.NO! THOMAS HOOD.JACOB OMNIUM'S HOSS A NEW PALLICE COURT CHANT. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAYTHE BALLAD OF ELIZA DAVIS. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAYTHE LAMENTABLE BALLAD OF THE FOUNDLING OF SHOREDITCH. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.THE CRYSTAL PALACE. W. MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.LETTERA LETTERTHE CANDIDATE'S CREED. (BIGLOW PAPERS.) JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.THE COURTIN'. JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.A SONG FOR A CATARRH. PUNCHEPITAPH ON A CANDLE. PUNCH.POETRY ON AN IMPROVED PRINCIPLE. A RENCONTER WITH A TEA-TOTALLER. PUNCH.ON A REJECTED NOSEGAY, OFFERED BY THE AUTHOR TO A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY, WHO RETURNED IT. PUNCH.A SERENADE. PUNCH.AN INVITATION TO THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS PUNCH.THE PEOPLE AND THEIR PALACE. IMPROVISED BY A FINE GENTLEMAN. PUNCH.A "SWELL'S" HOMAGE TO MRS. STOWE PUNCH.THE EXCLUSIVE'S BROKEN IDOL. PUNCH.EPITAPH ON A LOCOMOTIVE. BY THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF A DEPLORABLE ACCIDENT (NO BLAME TO BE ATTACHED TO ANY SERVANTS OF THE COMPANY). PUNCH.THE TICKET OF LEAVE. [AS SUNG BY THE HOLDER, AMID A CONVIVIAL CIRCLE IN THE SLUMS.] PUNCH.A POLKA LYRIC. BARCLAY PHILLIPSA SUNNIT TO THE BIG OX.ENIGMATICJAMES PARTON BRYANT BURNS LAMB BYRON POPE CHAUCER WILLIS HOLMES LOWELL LANDOR THACKERAY← INDEX.MISCELLANEOUS. →