Genre:

Introduction; Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Epidemiology, Disease

    A poem addressed to Izaak Walton is written as if by Jane Elizabeth Stuckey, and bemoans the ill consequences of his Compleat Angler on her son. She complains: 'I thought he were took with the Morbus one day, I did with his nasty angle! / For "oh dear," says he, and burst out in a cry, "oh my gut is all got of a tangle!"' (47). The poet has quarrelled with her cook: '"How dare you," says I, "for to stench the whole house by keeping that stinking liver?" / 'Twas enough to breed a fever, it was! they smelt it next door at the Bagots', / But it wasn't breeding no fever—not it! 'twas my son a-breeding of maggots!' (48).