Catherine Maria Fanshawe

Catherine Maria Fanshawe (1765–1834) was an English poet. The daughter of a Surrey squire, she wrote clever occasional verse. Her best-known production is the famous Riddle on the Letter H, beginning "'Twas whispered in heaven, 'twas muttered in hell" often attributed to Lord Byron. Her wonderful "Fragment in Imitation of Wordsworth" appears in the recent Oxford Book of Parodies (ed John Gross).

Famous quotes containing the word maria:

    God rest you merry, gentlemen,
    Let nothing you dismay,
    For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
    Was born upon this day,
    To save us all from Satan’s power
    When we were gone astray.
    O tidings of comfort and joy!
    For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
    Was born on Christmas Day.
    —Dinah Maria Mulock Craik (1826–1887)