in the article devoted to that abusive poet. This roused Wolcot to fury, and he sought out and found the rival satirist in the publisher's shop.
An amusing account of the fray is given by Mr. Moonshine, "The Battle of the Bards." Sir Walter Scott says of it: "Though so little an athlete, he nevertheless beat off Dr. Wolcot, when that celebrated person, the most unsparing calumniator of his time, chose to be offended with Gifford for satirizing him in his turn. Peter Pindar made a most violent attack, but Gifford had the best of the affray, and remained, I think, in triumphant possession of the field of action, and of the assailant's cane."
Scott had a high opinion of Gifford as a poet in his peculiar line. He wrote in 1805: "I have a good esteem of Mr. Gifford as a manly English poet, very different from most of our modern versifiers."
In 1802, Gifford published his principal work, his English version of Juvenal, the production of which had engrossed the greater part of his life, and which was issued with a dedication to Earl Grosvenor.
Soon after the publication of the Baviad, and the Mœviad, Gifford issued, as editor, the Anti-Jacobin (1797-8). In 1805, he published an edition of Massinger; in 1816, an edition of Ben Jonson. His version of Persius did not appear till 1821, after which date he completed an edition of Ford.
In 1814, he was at Ryde, whither he had taken his old housekeeper.[1] He wrote: "My poor housekeeper is going fast. Nothing can save her, and I lend all my care to soften her declining days. She has a physician every second day, and takes a world of medicines, more for their profit than her own, poor thing. Guess
- ↑ Annie Davies, died 6 February, 1815; buried in South Audley Street Church.
