Delphi Complete Poetical Works of Edward Lear Read online

  THE PELICAN CHORUS.

  THE COURTSHIP OF THE YONGHY-BONGHY-BÒ.

  THE POBBLE WHO HAS NO TOES.

  THE NEW VESTMENTS.

  THE QUANGLE WANGLE’S HAT.

  THE CUMMERBUND.

  THE AKOND OF SWAT.

  ALPHABET IV. (1877)

  ALPHABET V. (1877)

  INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF MY UNCLE ARLY

  ECLOGUE COMPOSED AT CANNES, DECEMBER 9TH, 1867

  THE HERALDIC BLAZON OF FOSS THE CAT

  THE DUCK AND THE KANGAROO IN THE AUTOGRAPH OF EDWARD LEAR

  HOW PLEASANT TO KNOW MR. LEAR

  HIS GARDEN

  WHEN “GRAND OLD MEN” PERSIST IN FOLLY

  SAITH THE POET OF NONSENSE

  AT DINGLE BANK

  EPITAPH

  MRS. JAYPHER

  SPOTS OF GREECE

  BUT AH! (THE LANDSCAPE PAINTER SAID)

  IT IS A VIRTUE IN INGENUOUS YOUTH

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO FELT PERT

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PAXO

  PARODY OF TENNYSON’S ‘TO EDWARD LEAR ON HIS TRAVELS IN GREECE’

  THE CHILDREN OF THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT

  COLD ARE THE CRABS

  THE SCROOBIOUS PIP

  THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEAR, THE POLLY AND THE PUSSEYBITE ON THEIR WAY TO THE RITERTITLE MOUNTAINS

  LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

  A-D E-H I-L M-O P-S T-V W-Z

  ALPHABET I. (1871)

  ALPHABET II. (1871)

  ALPHABET III. (1871)

  ALPHABET IV. (1877)

  ALPHABET V. (1877)

  AT DINGLE BANK

  BUT AH! (THE LANDSCAPE PAINTER SAID)

  CALICO PIE.

  COLD ARE THE CRABS

  ECLOGUE COMPOSED AT CANNES, DECEMBER 9TH, 1867

  EPITAPH

  HIS GARDEN

  HOW PLEASANT TO KNOW MR. LEAR

  INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF MY UNCLE ARLY

  IT IS A VIRTUE IN INGENUOUS YOUTH

  MR. AND MRS. SPIKKY SPARROW.

  MRS. JAYPHER

  PARODY OF TENNYSON’S ‘TO EDWARD LEAR ON HIS TRAVELS IN GREECE’

  SAITH THE POET OF NONSENSE

  SPOTS OF GREECE

  THE ABSOLUTELY ABSTEMIOUS ASS

  THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEAR, THE POLLY AND THE PUSSEYBITE ON THEIR WAY TO THE RITERTITLE MOUNTAINS

  THE AKOND OF SWAT.

  THE BOUNTIFUL BEETLE

  THE BROOM, THE SHOVEL, THE POKER, AND THE TONGS.

  THE CHILDREN OF THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT

  THE COMFORTABLE CONFIDENTIAL COW

  THE COURTSHIP OF THE YONGHY-BONGHY-BÒ.

  THE CUMMERBUND.

  THE DADDY LONG-LEGS AND THE FLY.

  THE DOLOMPHIOUS DUCK

  THE DONG WITH A LUMINOUS NOSE.

  THE DUCK AND THE KANGAROO IN THE AUTOGRAPH OF EDWARD LEAR

  THE DUCK AND THE KANGAROO.

  THE ENTHUSIASTIC ELEPHANT

  THE EXCELLENT DOUBLE-EXTRA XX

  THE FIZZGIGGIOUS FISH

  THE GOOD-NATURED GREY GULL

  THE HASTY HIGGELDIPIGGLEDY HEN

  THE HERALDIC BLAZON OF FOSS THE CAT

  THE INVENTIVE INDIAN

  THE JUDICIOUS JUBILANT JAY

  THE JUMBLIES.

  THE KICKING KANGAROO

  THE LIVELY LEARNED LOBSTER

  THE MELODIOUS MERITORIOUS MOUSE

  THE NEW VESTMENTS.

  THE NUTCRACKERS AND THE SUGAR-TONGS.

  THE NUTRITIOUS NEWT

  THE OBSEQUIOUS ORNAMENTAL OSTRICH

  THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT.

  THE PELICAN CHORUS.

  THE PERPENDICULAR PURPLE POLLY

  THE POBBLE WHO HAS NO TOES.

  THE QUANGLE WANGLE’S HAT.

  THE QUEER QUERULOUS QUAIL

  THE RURAL RUNCIBLE RAVEN

  THE SCROOBIOUS PIP

  THE SCROOBIOUS SNAKE

  THE TABLE AND THE CHAIR.

  THE TUMULTUOUS TOM-TOMMY TORTOISE

  THE TWO OLD BACHELORS.

  THE UMBRAGEOUS UMBRELLA-MAKER

  THE VISIBLY VICIOUS VULTURE

  THE WORRYING WHIZZING WASP

  THE YONGHY-BONGHY-BO

  THE ZIGZAG ZEALOUS ZEBRA

  THERE IS A YOUNG LADY, WHOSE NOSE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG GIRL OF MAJORCA

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY IN BLUE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY IN WHITE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF BUTE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF CLARE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF CORSICA

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF DORKING

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF FIRLE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF GREENWICH

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF HULL

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF LUCCA

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF NORWAY

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF PARMA

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF POOLE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF PORTUGAL

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF RUSSIA

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF RYDE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF SWEDEN

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF TROY

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF TURKEY

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF TYRE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF WALES

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF WELLING

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHOSE BONNET

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHOSE CHIN

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHOSE EYES

  THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHOSE NOSE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON IN GREEN

  THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON IN PINK

  THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON IN RED

  THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF AYR

  THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF BANTRY

  THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF CRETE

  THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF JANINA

  THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF KEW

  THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF SMYRNA

  THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON WHOSE HISTORY

  THERE WAS AN OLD DERRY DOWN DERRY

  THERE WAS AN OLD LADY OF CHERTSEY

  THERE WAS AN OLD LADY OF FRANCE

  THERE WAS AN OLD LADY OF PRAGUE

  THERE WAS AN OLD LADY OF WINCHELSEA

  THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHOSE FOLLY

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN AT A JUNCTION

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN AT A STATION

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A BARGE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A BOAT

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A CASEMENT

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A GARDEN

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A MARSH

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A PEW

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A TREE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A TREE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF ANCONA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF AÔSTA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF APULIA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF BERLIN

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF BLACKHEATH

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF BOHEMIA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF BOULAK

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF CALCUTTA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF CAPE HORN

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF CASHMERE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF COBLENZ

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF COLUMBIA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF CORFU

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DEE-SIDE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DUMBLANE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DUMBREE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DUNDEE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DUNLUCE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DUNROSE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF EL HUMS

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF HONG KONG

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF IBREEM

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF JAMAICA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF KAMSCHATKA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF KILKENNY

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF LEGHORN

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF MADRAS

  THERE WAS AN OLD
MAN OF MARSEILLES

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF MELROSE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF MESSINA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF MOLDAVIA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF NEPAUL

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF PERU

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF PERU.

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF PORT GRIGOR

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF QUEBEC, —

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF SPITHEAD

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF TH’ ABRUZZI

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THAMES DITTON

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE CAPE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE COAST

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE DARGLE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE DEE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE EAST

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE HAGUE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE ISLES

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE NILE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE NORTH

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE SOUTH

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE WEST

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE WEST

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE WREKIN

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THERMOPYLAE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THREE BRIDGES

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF TOULOUSE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF VESUVIUS

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF VIENNA

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF WEST DUMPET

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF WHITEHAVEN

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ON A HILL

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ON SOME ROCKS

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ON THE BORDER

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ON THE HUMBER

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ON WHOSE NOSE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO FELT PERT

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO SAID, “HOW

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO SAID, “HUSH!

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO SAID, “WELL!

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO SCREAMED OUT

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO SUPPOSED

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHOSE DESPAIR

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHOSE REMORSE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A BEARD

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A BEARD

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A FLUTE, —

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A GONG

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A NOSE

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A POKER

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH AN OWL

  THERE WAS AN OLD MAN, WHO WHEN LITTLE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON IN BLACK

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON IN GRAY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF ANERLEY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BANGOR

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BAR

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BARNES

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BASING

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BLYTHE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BOW

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BRAY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BREE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BRIGG

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BRILL

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BROMLEY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BUDA

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BUDE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BURTON

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CADIZ

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CANNES

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CASSEL

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CHEADLE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CHESTER

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CHILI

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CHINA

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CROMER

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CROWLE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DEAL

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DEAN

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DOVER

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DOWN

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DUNDALK

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DUTTON

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF EALING

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF EMS

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF EWELL

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF FIFE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF FILEY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF FLORENCE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF GRANGE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF GRETNA

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF HOVE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF HURST

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF HYDE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF ICKLEY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF ISCHIA

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF JODD

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF LEEDS

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF LOO

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF MINETY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF MOLD

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF NEWRY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF NICE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PAXO

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PETT

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PHILŒ

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PINNER

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PISA

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PRAGUE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PUTNEY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF RHEIMS

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF RHODES

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF RIMINI

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF RYE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SARK

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SESTRI

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SHEEN

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SHIELDS

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SHOREHAM

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SKYE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SLOUGH

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SPAIN

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SPARTA

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF STROUD

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF TARTARY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF TRING

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF TROY

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF WARE

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF WICK

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF WILTS

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF WOKING

  THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON WHOSE HABITS

  WHEN “GRAND OLD MEN” PERSIST IN FOLLY

  Selected Paintings

  Monte Generoso, located on the border between Switzerland and Italy and between Lake Lugano and Lake Como. Between 1878 and 1883, Lear spent his summers on Monte Generoso and his celebrated oil painting ‘The Plains of Lombardy’ is a product of this creative period.

  LIST OF ARTWORKS

  Animal Illustrations

  Ara macao

  Psitteuteles versicolor

  Vini kuhlii

  Wood pigeon

  Common Pheasant

  Lear MaguariStork

  Anodorhynchus leari

  Psittacula torquata

  Agapornis swindernianus

  Agapornis taranta

  Cock of the Wood

  Tortoise litograph

  Chelonoidis denticulata

  Landscape Paintings

  Reggio calabria

  Masada (or Sebbeh) on the Dead Sea

  Lear petra wadi bushes 1858

  Civita Castellana

  Petra wadi bushes, sketch, 1858

  Lear petra 1859

  Nuneham

  The Pyramids Road, Gizah

  Howatke, 1858

  The Falls of the Kalama Albania 1851

  The Plains of Lombardy from Monte Generoso

  Animal Illustrations

  Ara macao

  Psitteuteles versicolor

  Vini kuhlii

  Wood pigeon

  Common Pheasant

  Lear MaguariStork

  Anodorhynchus leari

  Psittacula torquata

  Agapornis swindernianus

  Agapornis taranta

  Cock of the Wood

  Tortoise litograph

  Chelonoid
is denticulata

  Landscape Paintings

  Reggio calabria

  Masada (or Sebbeh) on the Dead Sea

  Lear petra wadi bushes 1858

  Civita Castellana

  Petra wadi bushes, sketch, 1858

  Lear petra 1859

  Nuneham

  The Pyramids Road, Gizah

  Howatke, 1858

  The Falls of the Kalama Albania 1851

  The Plains of Lombardy from Monte Generoso

  The Biography

  Stratford Place, Westminster, London — Lear’s home and studio from 1859 till 1868

  The plaque commemorating Lear’s studio in Westminster

  BRIEF BIOGRAPHY by Franklin Lushington

  EDWARD LEAR (1812-1888), English artist and humorist, was born in London on the 12th of May 1812. His earliest drawings were ornithological. When he was twenty years old he published a brilliantly coloured selection of the rarer Psittacidae. Its power attracted the attention of the 13th earl of Derby, who employed Lear to draw his Knowsley menagerie. He became a permanent favourite with the Stanley family; and Edward, 15th earl, was the child for whose amusement the first Book of Nonsense was composed. From birds, Lear turned to landscape, his earliest efforts in which recall the manner of J. D. Harding; but he quickly acquired a more individual style. About 1837 he set up a studio at Rome, where he lived for ten years, with summer tours in Italy and Sicily, and occasional visits to England. During this period he began to publish his Illustrated Journals of a Landscape Painter: charmingly written reminiscences of wandering, which ultimately embraced Calabria, the Abruzzi, Albania, Corsica, &c. From 1848-1849 he explored Greece, Constantinople, the Ionian Islands, Lower Egypt, the wildest recesses of Albania, and the desert of Sinai. He returned to London, but the climate did not suit him. In 1854-1855 he wintered on the Nile, and migrated successively to Corfu, Malta and Rome, finally building himself a villa at San Remo. From Corfu Lear visited Mount Athos, Syria, Palestine, and Petra; and when over sixty, by the assistance of Lord Northbrook, then Governor-General, he saw the cities and scenery of greatest interest within a large area of India. From first to last he was, in whatever circumstances of difficulty or ill-health, an indomitable traveller.