Brown, TOM

Brown, TOM, 'of facetious memory' in Addison's phrase, was born at Shiffnal, Shropshire, in 1663. His studies at Christ Church, Oxford, were most probably cut short by his irregularities, but are remembered by his clever extempore translation and application to Dr Fell, the dean of Christ Church, of Martial's epigram, 'Non amo te, Sabidi: 'I do not love thee, Dr Fell, the reason why I cannot tell.' After a few years of teaching at Kingston-on-Thames, he settled in London, where he made an uncertain living by writing satirical poems and pamphlets, many of them remarkable more for their vigour and scurrility than their wit. He is principally interesting now as the assailant of much better men than himself, among them Dryden, Sherlock, Tom Durfee, and Sir Richard Blackmore. He lived a shift and disreputable life, and died 16th June 1704, being fittingly buried near his friend, Mrs Afra Behn. His works were collected into 3 vols. (1707-8).