But on looking again, I
perceive
that the Species
Of "Nonsense" you want must be purely "_facetious_;"
And, as that is the case, you had best put to press
Mr.
Of "Nonsense" you want must be purely "_facetious_;"
And, as that is the case, you had best put to press
Mr.
Byron
_April 9, 1820_.
[First published, _Miscellaneous Poems_, printed for
J. Bumpus, 1824. ]
FOOTNOTES:
[114] ["I send you 'a Song of Triumph,' by W. Botherby, Esq^re^ price
sixpence, on the election of J. C. H. , Esqre. , for Westminster (_not_ for
publication). "--Letter to Murray, April 9, 1820, _Letters_, 1901, v. 6. ]
A VOLUME OF NONSENSE.
DEAR MURRAY,--
You ask for a "_Volume of Nonsense_,"
Have all of your authors exhausted their store?
I thought you had published a good deal not long since.
And doubtless the Squadron are ready with more.
But on looking again, I perceive that the Species
Of "Nonsense" you want must be purely "_facetious_;"
And, as that is the case, you had best put to press
Mr. Sotheby's tragedies now in M. S. ,
Some Syrian Sally
From common-place Gally,
Or, if you prefer the bookmaking of women,
Take a spick and span "Sketch" of your feminine _He-Man_. [115]
_Sept. 28, 1820. _
[First published, _Letters_, 1900, v. 83. ]
FOOTNOTES:
[115] [For Felicia Dorothea Browne (1793-1835), married in 1812 to
Captain Hemans, see _Letters_, iii. 368, _note_ 2. In the letter which
contains these verses he writes, "I do not despise Mrs. Heman; but if
she knit blue stockings instead of wearing them it would be better. "
Elsewhere he does despise her: "No more _modern_ poesy, I pray, neither
Mrs. Hewoman's nor any female or male Tadpole of poet
Wordsworth's. "--_Ibid. _, v.
