Chapter I: Preface

In the compilation of this volume my aim has been to furnish a work that would be representative in character rather than exhaustive. The restrictions of space imposed by the limits of such a series as this have necessitated the omission of many pieces that readers might expect to see included. As far as possible, however, the most typical satires of the successive eras have been selected, so as to throw into relief the special literary characteristics of each, and to manifest the trend of satiric development during the centuries elapsing between Langland and Lowell.

Acknowledgment is due, and is gratefully rendered, to Mrs. C.S. Calverley for permission to print the verses which close this book; and to Messrs. Macmillan & Co. for permission to print A.H. Clough's "Spectator ab Extra".

To Professor C.H. Herford my warmest thanks are due for his careful revision of the Introduction, and for many valuable hints which have been adopted in the course of the work; also to Mr. W. Keith Leask, M.A.(Oxon.), and the librarians of the Edinburgh University and Advocates' Libraries.

OLIPHANT SMEATON.

CONTENTS.

Page
INTRODUCTION xiii

WILLIAM LANGLAND
I. Pilgrimage in Search of Do-well 1

GEOFFREY CHAUCER II. III. The Monk and the Friar 6

JOHN LYDGATE
IV. The London Lackpenny 10

WILLIAM DUNBAR
V. The Dance of the Seven Deadly Sins 14

SIR DAVID LYNDSAY
VI. Satire on the Syde Taillis--Ane Supplicatioun
directit to the Kingis Grace--1538 19

BISHOP JOSEPH HALL
VII. On Simony 22
VIII. The Domestic Tutor's Position 23
IX. The Impecunious Fop 24

GEORGE CHAPMAN
X. An Invective written by Mr. George Chapman
against Mr. Ben Jonson 26

JOHN DONNE
XI. The Character of the Bore 29

BEN JONSON
XII. The New Cry 34
XIII. On Don Surly 35

SAMUEL BUTLER
XIV. The Character of Hudibras 36
XV. The Character of a Small Poet 43

ANDREW MARVELL
XVI. Nostradamus's Prophecy 45

JOHN CLEIVELAND
XVII. The Scots Apostasie 47

JOHN DRYDEN
XVIII. Satire on the Dutch 49
XIX. MacFlecknoe 50
XX. Epistle to the Whigs 57

DANIEL DEFOE
XXI. Introduction to the True born Englishman 63

THE EARL OF DORSET
XXII. Satire on a Conceited Playwright 65

JOHN ARBUTHNOT
XXIII. Preface to John Bull and his Law suit 66
XXIV. The History of John Bull 70
XXV. Epitaph upon Colonel Chartres 76

JONATHAN SWIFT
XXVI. Mrs Frances Harris' Petition 77
XXVII. Elegy on Partridge 81
XXVIII. A Meditation upon a Broom stick 85
XXIX. The Relations of Booksellers and Authors 86
XXX. The Epistle Dedicatory to His Royal Highness
Prince Posterity 91

SIR RICHARD STEELE
XXXI. The Commonwealth of Lunatics 97

JOSEPH ADDISON
XXXII. Sir Roger de Coverley's Sunday 101

EDWARD YOUNG XXXIII. To the Right Hon. Mr. Dodington 105

JOHN GAY
XXXIV. The Quidnunckis 112

ALEXANDER POPE
XXXV. The Dunciad--The Description of Dulness 114
XXXVI. Sandys' Ghost; or, a proper new ballad of
the New Ovid's Metamorphoses, as it was
intended to be translated by persons of
quality 120
XXXVII. Satire on the Whig Poets 122
XXXVIII. Epilogue to the Satires 131

SAMUEL JOHNSON
XXXIX. The Vanity of Human Wishes 136
XL. Letter to the Earl of Chesterfield 147

OLIVER GOLDSMITH
XLI. The Retaliation 149
XLII. The Logicians Refuted 154
XLIII. Beau Tibbs, his Character and Family 156

CHARLES CHURCHILL
XLIV. The Journey 160

JUNIUS
XLV. To the King 164

ROBERT BURNS
XLVI. Address to the Unco Guid, or the Rigidly
Righteous 180
XLVII. Holy Willie's Prayer 182

CHARLES LAMB XLVIII. A Farewell to Tobacco 186

THOMAS MOORE
XLIX. Lines on Leigh Hunt 191

GEORGE CANNING
L. Epistle from Lord Boringdon to Lord Granville 192
LI. Reformation of the Knave of Hearts 194

POETRY OF THE ANTI JACOBIN
LII. The Friend of Humanity and the Knife-grinder 203
LIII. Song by Rogero the Captive 205

COLERIDGE AND SOUTHEY
LIV. The Devil's Walk 206

SYDNEY SMITH
LV. The Letters of Peter Plymley--on "No
Popery" 208

JAMES SMITH
LVI. The Poet of Fashion 216

WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR
LVII. Bossuet and the Duchess of Fontanges 218

LORD BYRON
LVIII. The Vision of Judgment 226
LIX. The Waltz 236
LX. "The Dedication" in Don Juan 243

THOMAS HOOD
LXI. Cockle _v._ Cackle 249

LORD MACAULAY
LXII. The Country Clergyman's Trip to Cambridge 253

WINTHROP MACKWORTH PRAED
LXIII. The Red Fisherman; or, The Devil's Decoy 257
LXIV. Mad--Quite Mad 264

BENJAMIN DISRAELI (LORD BEACONSFIELD)
LXV. Popanilla on Man 270

ROBERT BROWNING
LXVI. Cristina 277
LXVII. The Lost Leader 280

WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY LXVIII. Piscator and Piscatrix 281 LXIX. On a Hundred Years Hence 283

ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH
LXX. Spectator Ab Extra 292

C.S. CALVERLEY
LXXI. "Hic Vir, Hic Est" 296