[49] Lucian makes the father of Cleanthis congratulate himself on having obtained a buffoon for his son’s wedding feast.  This individual was an ugly little fellow with close shaven head, except a few straggling hairs made up to resemble a cock.  He began by dancing and contorting his body and spouting some AEgytian verses, then he launched all kinds of fooleries at the company.  Most laughed, but on his calling Alcidamas a Maltese puppy, he was challenged to fight or have his brains dashed out.

[50] But this may have been traditional, for the fools in classic times were sometimes shaven.

[51] Wright’s “History of the Grotesque.”

[52] Such as the Wife of Bath’s tale, and in “January and May,” or the “Marchante’s Tale.”

[53] She was roasting a pig.

[54] Most of the ridiculous answers said to have been made at examinations are mere humorous inventions.  We almost think there must be a slight improvement made in the following, though they are upon the authority of an examiner,

   What are the great Jewish Feasts? 
   Purim, Urim, and Thummin. 
   What bounded Samaria on the East? 
   The Jordan. 
   What on the West? 
   The other side of Jordan. 
   Derive an English word from the Latin necto? 
   Necktie.

Nor can we doubt that a slight humorous colouring has been introduced into the following from the “Memorials of Archibald Constable,” recently published by his son.—­An old deaf relation said on her death-bed to her attendant, “Ann, if I should be spared, I hope my nephew will get the doctor to open my head, and see whether anything can be done for my hearing.”

[55] One of Anne Boleyn’s principal favourites was Sir Thomas Wyatt, who was celebrated at that day as a man of humour, though at present we see nothing in his poems but a few poetical conceits.  The titles of them are suggestive:  “The Lover sending sighs to move his suit.”  “Of his Love who pricked her finger with a needle.”  “The Lover praiseth the beauty of his Lady’s hand.”  He wrote the following upon the Queen’s name:—­

  “What word is that, that changeth not,
   Though it be turned and made in twain? 
   It is mine Anna, God it wot,
   The only causer of my pain;
   My love that meedeth with disdain;
   Yet is it loved, what will you more? 
   It is my salve and eke my sore.”

[56] Christina of Sweden made a similar remark when the Order of the Garter was sent to Charles Gustavus.

[57] Pace had said the same to Queen Elizabeth, and from such strokes jesters were called ‘honest,’ as ‘Honest Jo,’ &c.

[58] There is little humour in Shadwell’s works; he succeeded Dryden as Poet Laureate, which was perhaps the cause of the above lines.

Rochester said, “If Shadwell had burnt all he wrote, and printed all he spoke, he would have had more wit and humour than any poet.”  Probably his wit would have been like Rochester’s.  Whether Shadwell were himself a good poet or not, he made a hit at the poetasters of his day, in which he showed some genius.