PUNS FROM THE POETS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21033, 23 May 1930, Page 12

PUNS FROM THE POETS.

SOME EMINENT OFFENDERS. “AND THE SEXTON TOLLED THE BELL” THE FAMOUS GILPIN PUN. Milton, the author of “Paradise Lost,” once wrote a punhing epitaph on the carrier who plied between Cambridge and London and “who sickened in the time of his vacancy, being forbid to go to London by reason of the plague.” The carrier was Hobson, whose “ choice ” has become famous. ,He used to let out his horses on hire. No matter how pressing the need, a- traveller had to take the horses Hobson offered or none, so that to-day the phrase “Hobson’s choice” is used to signify no choice. Milton’s poem, written on the death of the carrier, is too long to quote in full. One or two passages will suffice to show with what skill he played with words:— Rest, that gives all men life, gave him his death, And too much breathing put him out of breath j Nor were it contradiction to affirm Too long vacation hastened on his term. Again he says, referring to Hobson’s prosperity: Yet (strange to think) his wain was, his increase. Shakespeare was an inveterate punster. Dr Joljpon, in his preface to an edi tion of the poet’s works, severely censures him for playing with words on serious occasions. For example, in answer to King Richard’s question 1 : “ What comfort, man? How is’t with ancient Gaunt? ” Shakespeare puts into the mouth of Gaunt the words: “ 0 how that name befits my composition. Old Gaunt, indeed, and gaunt in being old. Within me grief has kept a tedious fast; and who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? ” , Hamlet is also made to pun. When' the clown, digging graves in the churchyard, in answer to the question, “ Whose grave’s this? ” says “ Mine, sir.” "Mine, sir,” Hamlet replies, “I think it he thine, indeed; for thou licst in’t.” And later adds: “Thou dost lie in’t, to he in’t and say it is thine; ’tis for the dead, not for the quick; therefore thou Hest.” Tom Hood’s puns arc well known. In “Faithless Sally Brown,” “Faithless Nellie Gray,” and “The Duel,” almost every line contains a pun. What could he wittier than the concluding verse of “Faithless Sally Brown”? His death, which happened in his berth. At forty-odd befell; They went and told the sexton, and The sexton tolled the hell. Perhaps one of the best known puns is by Cowper. According to the poem, John Gilpin borrowed a horse from his friend to ride to Edmonton to celebrate his wedding day, but the horse had other plans and took the jovial Gilpin to the house of his friend, who. on seeing his ruffled condition, asked him why he had come. Gilpin replied: I came because your horse would come: And if I well forhode. My hat and wig will soon he here— They are upon the road.