Project Gutenberg 2006-08-04 Public domain in the USA. 100 Combe, William 1742 1823 Coombe, William Syntax, Dr. Doctor Syntax The first of April; $b or, The triumphs of folly A poem dedicated to a celebrated duchess. By the author of The Diaboliad. Produced by David Edwards, Taavi Kalju and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) "The First of April; or, The Triumphs of Folly" by William Combe is a satirical poem written in the late 18th century. The book creatively explores the absurdities and follies prevalent in society, particularly focusing on the frivolities associated with fashion, rank, and social behavior. Through vivid imagery and engaging language, Combe critiques the superficiality of high society while reflecting on the universal nature of folly. The narrative unfolds on the first day of April, a day symbolizing folly and foolishness, as the author is drawn into a grand celebration presided over by the Queen of Folly. Throughout this satirical festival, various characters representing the excesses of society—including the vain, luxurious, and morally ambiguous—offer their tributes to the Queen. As these offerings are presented, Combe uses humor and sharp commentary to illustrate the emptiness and futility of their pursuits, leading to a deeper critique of human nature and societal norms. The poem ultimately serves as a reflection on the timeless theme of folly, inviting readers to contemplate the inherent absurdities within their own lives and the world around them. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 63.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en English poetry -- 18th century PR Text Category: Poetry Category: Humour 93996 2025-08-08T07:09:08.994202 text/html 93168 2006-08-04T10:57:02 text/html 117142 2025-08-08T07:09:15.347178 application/epub+zip 116354 2025-08-08T07:09:12.017185 application/epub+zip 91668 2025-08-08T07:09:10.775196 application/epub+zip 229218 2025-08-08T07:09:17.362177 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 258971 2025-08-08T07:09:14.577183 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 230297 2022-09-09T06:58:48.067848 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 62930 2025-08-08T07:09:08.508191 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 62818 2006-08-04T10:57:02 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 18472 2025-08-08T07:09:17.485153 application/rdf+xml 14062 2025-08-08T07:09:11.275171 image/jpeg 3582 2025-08-08T07:09:11.026175 image/jpeg 29242 2006-08-04T10:57:04 application/octet-stream application/zip 25804 2006-08-04T10:57:04 application/octet-stream application/zip 114538 2025-08-08T07:09:09.002184 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia