And as to the young labourers, they are now in almost as hopeful a condition. They cannot get work, and consequently pine away from want of nourishment, to a degree, that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common labour, they have not strength to perform it, and thus the country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come.

–“A Modest Proposal,”
Jonathan Swift

Which phrase in the passage is an example of verbal irony?

“young labourers”
“cannot get work”
“if at any time”
“happily delivered”

Answer-Happily delivered