“It was Reynolds, too, who, in 1819, anticipated the genuine _Peter Bell_ of Wordsworth by a spurious _Peter Bell_, in which were exhibited and exaggerated the characteristics of Wordsworth’s earlier _simplicitas_. I knew Reynolds, and often talked to him about _Peter Bell_. Wordsworth’s poem had been advertised, but its publication was from time to time put off. Some literary men were guessing at the cause of this delay, and one said, Wordsworth is keeping it back to elaborate. ‘Elaborate!’ said Reynolds, ‘I’ll see if I can’t get one out before him.’ He set to work that afternoon, and sent his poem to the printer the next evening. I think it was out about a fortnight before Wordsworth’s. Up to the publication of _Peter Bell_, they were literary friends, and occasionally exchanged letters. The joke annoyed Wordsworth, who gave up the acquaintance.” Shelley also wrote a parody of _Peter Bell_. A parody entitled “_The Dead Asses_, a Lyrical Ballad” was also published in 1819, but no copy of it can be found in the British Museum Library. “_Benjamin the Waggoner_, a Ryghte merrie and conceitede tale in verse.” A Fragment. London, Baldwin. 1819. Anonymous. The introduction is signed _Peter Plague-em_. This clever burlesque of “Peter Bell,” is an octavo of 96 pages, and consists of an Introduction, the poem, and some very prolix notes, all in ludicrous imitation of Wordsworth. There’s something in a glass of ale, There’s something in good sugar candy; And when a man is getting cold, And when the weather’s getting cold, There’s something in a glass of brandy. There’s something in Gambado’s horse, There’s something in a velocipede; That’s the horse I’d like the best, On it your book may easy rest, And he who runs may read. I wish I had a pair of wings, And like the arab, a little peg; I’d instant lay across my leg, And rising up to other spheres, No more should critics vex my ears. And now I _have_ a velocipede, And now I have the little peg, And now I’ve fix’d upon it wings, And bidding adieu to earthly things, I lift,――and lay across my leg. Now I rise, and away we go, My little hobby-horse and me; And now I’m near the planet Venus, Nothing seems to be between us, Not a bit of earth I see. * * * * * I love the words which run so easy―― Boat and float――and you and do―― Ass and grass make pretty rhyme; Boat, I’ve used it many a time, And ass――times just forty-two. The parody is amusing, but exceedingly frivolous, as no attempt is made to do more than ridicule the simplicity of Wordsworth’s diction. ―――― LORD BYRON ON “PETER BELL.” Messrs. J. W. Jarvis & Son, booksellers, of King William Street, Strand, have a scarce little work from which they kindly allow the following extracts to be made:――