I think the previous two reviewers are missing the fact that these are the first ever limericks, written by the person who invented the form. Yes, they're not very funny today, and despite having the same AABBA structure as they do today Lear always used to end the first and last lines with the same word, which sounds false to the modern ear. However, for anyone interested in poetic forms this is a must.
Or in other words:
There was a (now dead) man called Lear
Who had something he thought we should hear
His brand new verse form
Caused a comedic storm
But sounds wrong to our modern-day ear.
