Skip to content
1667–1745

BOUTS RIMEZ

Jonathan Swift

Our schoolmaster may roar i’ th’ fit, Of classic beauty, haec et illa; Not all his birch inspires such wit As th'ogling beams of Domitilla.

Let nobles toast, in bright champaign, Nymphs higher born than Domitilla; I'll drink her health, again, again, In Berkeley's tar,or sars'parilla.

At Goodman's Fields I've much admired The postures strange of Monsieur Brilla; But what are they to the soft step, The gliding air of Domitilla?

Virgil has eternized in song The flying footsteps of Camilla; Sure, as a prophet, he was wrong; He might have dream'd of Domitilla.

Great Theodose condemn'd a town For thinking ill of his Placilla: And deuce take London! if some knight O’ th’ city wed not Domitilla.

Wheeler,Sir George, in travels wise, Gives us a medal of Plantilla; But O! the empress has not eyes, Nor lips, nor breast, like Domitilla.

Not all the wealth of plunder'd Italy, Piled on the mules of king At-tila, Is worth one glove ( I'll not tell a bit a lie ) Or garter, snatch'd from Domitilla.

Cookies on Poetry Cove

We use cookies to remember your language preference and — only with your consent — to learn how Poetry Cove is used. You can change your mind any time.
BOUTS RIMEZ · Jonathan Swift · Poetry Cove