Richard Porson

thumb|Richard Porson Richard Porson (December 25, 1759 – September 25, 1808) was an English classical scholar. Quotes To a gentleman, who, at the close of a fierce dispute with Porson, exclaimed, "My opinion of you is most contemptible, Sir"; he retorted, "I never knew an opinion of yours that was not contemptible." John Selby Watson, The Life of Richard Porson, M.A. (1861), p. 385. English Epigrams Reported in William Davenport Adams (ed.) English Epigrams (London, [1878]) When Billy found he scarce could stand, "Help, help!" he cried, and stretch'd his hand,      To faithful Henry calling: Quoth Hal, "My friend, I'm sorry for't; 'Tis not my practice to support      A minister that's falling." "On Pitt's Drinking Habits" ["Henry" is Dundas, afterwards Viscount Melville, who was Pitt's confidential friend and colleague. The above is one out of a hundred epigrams said to have been written by Porson in one night.] "Who's up ?" inquired Burke of a friend at the door, "Oh, no one," says Paddy, "tho' Pitt's on the floor." "On the Same" [Another of the epigrammatic century referred to. Here is a third:— "How well our friends," saith Hal, "have stood their ground!" "Have they?" quoth Will; " I thought they all turned round."] A little garden little Jowett made, And fenced it with a little palisade; A little taste hath little Dr. Jowett; This little garden doth a little show it. "On Dr. Jowett, Fellow of St. John's, Cambridge" [There is a longer version of this jeu d'esprit:— A little garden little Jowett made, And fenced it with a little palisade; Because this garden made a little talk, He changed it to a little gravel walk: And now, if more you 'd know of little Jowett, A little time, it will a little show it. See the Life of Richard Porson, by J. Selby Watson (1861)] Here lies a Doctor of Divinity, Who was a Fellow too of Trinity; He knew as much about Divinity As other Fellows do of Trinity. "On a Fellow of Trinity College" I went to Frankfort and got drunk With that most learn'd Professor Brunck: I went to Wortz and got more drunken With that more learn'd Professor Ruhnken. "On German Drinking" [This epigram is wholly imaginary, for Porson was never out of England. The lines are from Facetiae Canitabrigienses (1825)] External links Category:Classical scholars Category:1808 deaths Category:People from England