Biglow has been too hasty in
attributing
it to me.
James Russell Lowell
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: The wise Scandinavians probably called their bards by the
queer-looking title of Scald in a delicate way, as it were, just to hint
to the world the hot water they always get into. ]
[Footnote 2:
To demonstrate quickly and easily how per-
-versely absurd 'tis to sound this name _Cowper_,
As people in general call him named _super_,
I remark that he rhymes it himself with horse-trooper. ]
[Footnote 3:
(If you call Snooks an owl, he will show by his looks
That he's morally certain you're jealous of Snooks. )]
[Footnote 4:(Cuts rightly called wooden, as all
must admit. )]
[Footnote 5:
That is in most cases we do, but not all,
Past a doubt, there are men who are innately small,
Such as Blank, who, without being 'minished a tittle,
Might stand for a type of the Absolute Little. ]
[Footnote 6:
(And at this just conclusion will surely arrive,
That the goodness of earth is more dead than alive. )]
[Footnote 7:
Not forgetting their tea and their toast, though, the while. ]
[Footnote 8:
Turn back now to page--goodness only knows what,
And take a fresh hold on the thread of my plot. ]
[Footnote 9: The reader curious in such matters may refer (if he can
find them) to _A sermon preached on the Anniversary of the Dark Day, An
Artillery Election Sermon, A Discourse on the Late Eclipse, Dorcas, A
Funeral Sermon on the Death of Madam Submit Tidd, Relict of the late
Experience Tidd, Esq. , &c. , &c. _]
[Footnote 10: Aut insanit, aut versos facit.
--H. W. ]
[Footnote 11: In relation to this expression, I cannot but think that Mr.
Biglow has been too hasty in attributing it to me. Though Time be a
comparatively innocent personage to swear by, and though Longinus in his
discourse [Greek: Peri 'Upsous] have commended timely oaths as not only
a useful but sublime figure of speech, yet I have always kept my lips
free from that abomination. _Odi profanum vulgus_, I hate your swearing
and hectoring fellows. --H. W. ]
[Footnote 12: i hait the Site of a feller with a muskit as I du pizn But
their _is_ fun to a cornwallis I aint agoin' to deny it. --H. B. ]
[Footnote 13: he means Not quite so fur I guess. --H. B. ]
[Footnote 14: the ignerant creeter means Sekketary; but he ollers stuck
to his books like cobbler's wax to an ile-stone. --H. B. ]
[Footnote 15: it must be aloud that thare's a streak of nater in lovin'
sho, but it sartinly is 1 of the curusest things in nater to see a
rispecktable dri goods dealer (deekon off a chutch maybe) a riggin'
himself out in the Weigh they du and struttin' round in the Reign
aspilin' his trowsis and makin' wet goods of himself. Ef any thin's
foolisher and moor dicklus than militerry gloary it is milishy
gloary.