Epistles (Horace) Epistles (Horace) The Epistles (or Letters) of Horace were published in two books, in 20 BCE and 14 BCE, respectively. As one commentator has put it: "Horace's "Epistles" may be said to be a continuation of his Satires in the form of letters... But few of the epistles are [actually] letters except in form..." They do indeed contain an excellent specimen of a letter of introduction (I.9); a piece of playful banter (I.14); pieces of friendly correspondence (I.3, I.4 and I.5); while the last, "Epistle" I.20, is inscribed 'To His Book," and forms a sort of epilogue to the "Epistles"
William Hamilton (comic poet) William Hamilton (comic poet) William Hamilton (1665? – 24 May 1751) was a Scottish poet. He wrote comic, mock-tragic poetry such as ""The Last Dying Words of Bonny Heck"" - a once-champion hare coursing greyhound in the East Neuk of Fife who was about to be hanged, for growing too slow. It is written in anglified Scots, with a sprightly narrative and wry comic touches. Hamilton was born in Gilbertfield, Cambuslang, Scotland. In the "Familiar Epistles" he exchanged with Allan Ramsay, he modestly acknowledges the limitations of his own muse. Ramsay singles out "Heck" as he suggests there is room