Stephen Duck: The Thresher Poet
During the 1730s, writes Michael Paffard, the modest and unassuming Duck achieved considerable fame.
On September 11th, 1730, Joseph Spence, who was sometime Professor of Poetry at Oxford, wrote from Winchester to his friend Alexander Pope as follows:
‘We have a particular Accident here I cannot forbear communicating to you. All our conversation turns on it; everybody is surpriz’d that hears it. ’Tis a Man without anything of what is cald Education, grown up into an Excellent Poet all at once.
The man is yet a common Thresher: plain & modest in his behaviour; but when you come to talk to him, of particular good sense; & of more knowledge than could possibly be expected.’
After many more particulars and a cursory enquiry after Mrs Pope’s health, he concludes excitedly, ‘You see that I am just full of the Man!’
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