Prithee sirrah, pull the finger

March 1, 2005 10:41 AM

Sometimes science has to take a back seat to art. Mark Twain's contribution to the fart joke was '1601 Conversation As it was by the Social Fireside in the Time of the Tudors', a heart-warming tale of Elizabethan intrigue and fart queens.
posted by DeepFriedTwinkies (5 comments total)

That was pretty hilarious stuff, and fairly risque, even by today's standards. Thanks, DFT.
posted by saladin at 10:59 AM on March 1, 2005

For an even earlier example, see Swift's Strephon and Chloe [warning--may have NSFW ads].
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:06 PM on March 1, 2005

I'd also refer you to Swift's The benefit of farting explain'd, or, The fundament-all cause of the distempers incident to the fair sex, but I can't find it on the web.
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:13 PM on March 1, 2005

This Nicholas was risen for to pisse,
And thoughte he wolde amenden al the jape;
He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape.
And up the wyndowe dide he hastily,
And out his ers he putteth pryvely
Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon;
And therwith spak this clerk, this Absolon,
"Spek, sweete bryd, I noot nat where thou art."
This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart,
As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,
That with the strook he was almoost yblent;
And he was redy with his iren hoot,
And Nicholas amydde the ers he smoot,
Of gooth the skyn an hande brede aboute,
The hoote kultour brende so his toute,
And for the smert he wende for to dye.
posted by UKnowForKids at 1:32 PM on March 1, 2005

Wow. Awesome post.
posted by bardic at 7:36 AM on March 2, 2005