Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 6915, 30 May 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

Sir Humphrey Davy, when a raw, awkward young man, once found himself in the company of a number of literary men much older than himself, and the conversation turned on the poetic beauties of Milton. In the middle of a declamation of one of the poet’s finest passages by an enthusiastic admirer, Davy interposed the infelicitous remark that he “ never could understand Milton.” “Very likely, sir,” said one of the company witheringly— “ nothing more likely ; but surely you don’t mean to blame the poet for that ?” “ What is the meaning of the phrase ‘ passing strange ?’ ” asked the teiacher. “ Shoving the queer,” replied the head boy.