Laurel · Jonathan Swift

On Poetry: A Rhapsody, and Other Poems

Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) · 1727

Mostly iambic tetrameter · 11,478 lines in 170 sections

The first half of Swift's verse: "A Description of the Morning", "A Description of a City Shower", "Baucis and Philemon".

Measured across the book

Across its 11,478 lines, 96% of stressed syllables fall on the beat (95% interval 95% to 96%). Alliteration runs at 1.00 times what shuffling the words would give (0.27 observed against 0.27 expected). 18% of the lines have a feminine ending.

Baselines and intervals are described in the methods.

Contents

Introductioniambic tetrameter · 40 lines Written in May, 1689, at the Desire of the Late Lord Bishop of Elyiambic pentameter · 264 lines Written at Moor-Park in June 1689iambic pentameter · 212 lines On His Successes in Irelandiambic pentameter · ABAB · 48 lines Ode to the Athenian Societyiambic pentameter · 307 lines Written in November, 1693iambic pentameter · AABB · 234 lines Written in December, 1693iambic pentameter · AABB · 156 lines Written in a Lady's Ivory Table-Book, 1698iambic tetrameter · AABB · 30 lines Mrs. Frances Harris's Petition, 1699iambic pentameter · 90 lines Written at the Castle of Dublin, 1699common measure · 28 lines Written in August, 1702anapaestic tetrameter · 35 lines The Discoveryiambic tetrameter · 48 lines "That My Lord Berkeley Stinks When He Is in Love"iambic tetrameter · AABB · 60 lines The Description of a Salamander, 1705iambic tetrameter · AABB · 70 lines To Charles Mordaunt, Earl of Peterboroughiambic tetrameter · AABB · 45 lines On the Unioniambic tetrameter · AABB · 22 lines Or, the Receipt to Form a Beauty. 1707iambic pentameter · AABB · 12 lines (To Swift's Verses on Biddy Floyd); Or, Mrs. Cluddiambic tetrameter · AABB · 40 lines To the Honourable Mrs. Finch, Under Her Name of Ardeliaiambic tetrameter · ABAB · 64 lines Now First Publishedcommon measure · ABAB · 20 lines Vanbrugh's Houseiambic tetrameter · AABB · 92 lines Vanbrugh's Houseiambic tetrameter · AABB · 134 lines Baucis and Philemoniambic tetrameter · AABB · 230 lines Baucis and Philemoniambic tetrameter · AABB · 178 lines The History of Vanbrugh's House 1708iambic tetrameter · AABB · 48 lines On the Supposed Death of Partridge the Almanack Maker. 1708iambic tetrameter · AABB · 96 lines The Epitaphiambic tetrameter · AABB · 14 lines A Description of the Morningiambic pentameter · AABB · 18 lines Written in Oct., 1710; and First Printed in "The Tatler," No. 238iambic pentameter · AABB · 65 lines On the Little House by the Churchyard of Castlenock 1710iambic tetrameter · AABB · 64 lines A Town Eclogue. 1710iambic pentameter · AABB · 60 lines A Conference: Between Sir Harry Pierce's Chariot, and Mrs. D. Stopford's Chairanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 56 lines To Lord Harley, on His Marriage October 31, 1713iambic tetrameter · AABB · 83 lines Phyllis; Or, the Progress of Love, 1716iambic tetrameter · AABB · 100 lines Horace, Book Iv, Ode IX Addressed to Archbishop King, 1718iambic tetrameter · AABB · 29 lines Oct. 10, 1718 Nine in the Morningiambic tetrameter · AABB · 112 lines On the Death of Demar, the Usurer; Who Died on the 6Th of July, 1720iambic pentameter · AABB · 40 lines Epitaph on the Sameiambic tetrameter · 13 lines To Mrs. Houghton of Bourmont, on Praising Her Husband to Dr. Swiftanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 6 lines Verses Written on a Window, at the Deanery House, St. Patrick'sanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 10 lines On Another Windowanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines Apollo to the Dean. 1720anapaestic tetrameter · 112 lines Occasioned by "Apollo to the Dean" 1720anapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 75 lines Apollo's Edict Occasioned by "News from Parnassus"iambic tetrameter · AABB · 75 lines Translated Almost Literally Out of the Original Irish. 1720anapaestic dimeter · ABAB · 88 lines The Progress of Beauty. 1719iambic tetrameter · ABAB · 121 lines The Progress of Marriageiambic tetrameter · AABB · 178 lines The Progress of Poetryiambic tetrameter · AABB · 46 lines The South-Sea Project. 1721iambic tetrameter · ABAB · 230 lines Fabula Canis Et Umbraetrochaic heptameter · 7 lines Billet to a Company of Players Sent with the Prologueiambic pentameter · AABB · 58 lines To Mr. Hoppy's Benefit-Night, at Smock-Alleyanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 55 lines Prologueiambic pentameter · 38 lines Epilogue to a Benefit Play, Given in Behalf of the Distressed Weaversiambic pentameter · AABB · 47 lines Answer to Dr. Sheridan's Prologue, and to Dr. Swift's Epilogue. In Behalf of the Distressed Weavers. By Dr. Delanyiambic pentameter · AABB · 51 lines The Seat of George Rochfort, Esq. by Dr. Delanyiambic pentameter · AABB · 18 lines The Country Lifeiambic tetrameter · AABB · 141 lines Dr. Delany's Villaiambic tetrameter · AABB · 48 lines On One of the Windows at Delvilleanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 10 lines In Comitatu Corgagensi. Scripsit Jun. Ann. Dom. 1723trochaic heptameter · 33 lines Translated by Dr. Dunkiniambic pentameter · AABB · 46 lines On Mr. Fordiambic tetrameter · AABB · 114 lines On Dreamsiambic pentameter · AABB · 42 lines Sent by Dr. Delany to Dr. Swift, in Order to Be Admitted to Speak to Him When He Was Deaf. 1724iambic tetrameter · AABB · 14 lines The Answeriambic tetrameter · AABB · 54 lines A Quiet Life and a Good Name to a Friend Who Married a Shrew. 1724iambic tetrameter · AABB · 58 lines Advice to the Grub-Street Verse-Writers 1726common measure · ABAB · 20 lines A Pastoral Dialogueiambic tetrameter · AABB · 100 lines Desire and Possession 1727iambic tetrameter · AABB · 58 lines On Censure 1727iambic tetrameter · AABB · 30 lines The Furniture of a Woman's Mind 1727iambic tetrameter · AABB · 64 lines Clever Tom Clinch Going to Be Hanged. 1727anapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 24 lines Dr. Swift to Mr. Pope, While He Was Writing the "Dunciad"common measure · ABAB · 28 lines Written at Londoniambic tetrameter · AABB · 34 lines Bouts Rimeziambic pentameter · 36 lines Helter Skelter; or, the Hue and Cry After the Attorneys upon Their Riding the Circuittrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 61 lines The Puppet-Showiambic tetrameter · ABAB · 72 lines In a Letter to a Person of Quality. 1728iambic tetrameter · AABB · 293 lines The Logicians Refutediambic tetrameter · AABB · 58 lines The Elephant; Or, the Parliament Maniambic tetrameter · AABB · 34 lines By Mr. Lindsayiambic pentameter · AABB · 10 lines The Answer. By Dr. Swiftiambic tetrameter · AABB · 158 lines Lawyeriambic tetrameter · 34 lines Lawyeriambic tetrameter · AABB · 10 lines On Burning a Dull Poemiambic tetrameter · AABB · 16 lines An Excellent New Ballad; or, the True English Dean to Be Hanged for a Rape. 1730anapaestic tetrameter · ABABCC · 72 lines A Quibbling Epigram. 1730iambic pentameter · 12 lines The Lady's Dressing-Room. 1730iambic tetrameter · AABB · 145 lines The Power of Time. 1730iambic pentameter · AABB · 6 lines A Tragical Elegyiambic tetrameter · AABB · 119 lines Written for the Honour of the Fair Sex. 1731iambic tetrameter · AABB · 74 lines Strephon and Chloe 1731iambic tetrameter · AABB · 316 lines Apollo; Or, a Problem Solved 1731iambic tetrameter · AABB · 32 lines The Place of the Damned 1731anapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 18 lines The Day of Judgmentiambic tetrameter · AABB · 22 lines Judas. 1731iambic pentameter · AABB · 26 lines An Epistle to Mr. Gay 1731iambic pentameter · AABB · 165 lines To a Lady Who Desired the Author to Write Some Verses upon Her in the Heroic Styletrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 289 lines Epigram on the Busts in Richmond Hermitage. 1732iambic pentameter · 17 lines Anotheriambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines Drawn from the Above Epigrams, and Sent to the Drapieranapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 6 lines To the Reverend Dr. Swiftiambic pentameter · AABB · 28 lines Verses Left with a Silver Standish on the Dean of St. Patrick's Desk, on His Birth-Day. By Dr. Delanyiambic tetrameter · AABB · 22 lines Verses Occasioned by the Foregoing Presentsiambic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines Verses Sent to the Dean with an Eagle Quill, on Hearing of the Presents by the Earl of Orrery and Dr. Delany. By Mrs. Pilkingtoniambic pentameter · AABB · 16 lines An Invitation, by Dr. Delany, in the Name of Dr. Swiftanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 232 lines The Parson's Caseiambic tetrameter · AABB · 36 lines The Hardship upon the Ladies 1733iambic pentameter · AABB · 8 lines A Love Song in the Modern Taste. 1733trochaic tetrameter · ABAB · 32 lines Minerva's Petitioniambic tetrameter · AABB · 80 lines Ode on Scienceiambic tetrameter · AABCCB · 48 lines A Young Lady's Complaint for the Stay of the Dean in Englandtrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 42 lines Written in November, 1731iambic tetrameter · AABB · 545 lines On Poetry a Rhapsody. 1733iambic tetrameter · AABB · 563 lines Verses Sent to the Dean on His Birth-Day, with Pine's Horace, Finely Bound. By Dr. J. Sicaniambic tetrameter · AABB · 66 lines Epigram by Mr. Bowyer, Intended to Be Placed Under the Head of Gulliver. 1733iambic pentameter · AABB · 6 lines On Psycheanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 14 lines The Dean and Duke 1734iambic pentameter · AABB · 16 lines Written by Dr. Swift on His Own Deafness, in September, 1734iambic pentameter · 4 lines The Dean's Complaint, Translated and Answerediambic pentameter · AABB · 18 lines The Dean's Manner of Livingiambic tetrameter · AABB · 10 lines "In Syllabam Longam in Voce Vertiginosus A. D. Swift Correptam"anapaestic pentameter · 6 lines Verses Made for Fruit-Women: Applesanapaestic dimeter · AABB · 11 lines Asparagusiambic pentameter · 5 lines Onionsiambic pentameter · 15 lines Oystersiambic trimeter · AABB · 16 lines Herringsiambic pentameter · AABB · 9 lines Orangesiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines Instructions to a Paintertrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 57 lines Epigrams on Windows: I. On a Window at an Inniambic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines At an Inn in Englandiambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines III. On a Window at the Four Crosses, in the Watling-Street Road, Warwickshireiambic pentameter · 2 lines Another, at Chesteriambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines V. Another, at Chesteranapaestic dimeter · AABB · 12 lines VI. Another, at Chesteranapaestic dimeter · AABCCB · 6 lines Another Written upon a Window Where There Was No Writing Beforeiambic tetrameter · AABB · 6 lines On Seeing Verses Written upon Windows at Innsiambic tetrameter · ABABCDCD · 8 lines Anotheriambic tetrameter · AABCCB · 6 lines X. Anotheriambic pentameter · ABAB · 4 lines Another, at Holyheadiambic tetrameter · AABB · 10 lines To Janus, on New Year's Day, 1726trochaic tetrameter · AABB · 31 lines Woollen-Draper in Dublin, Whose Sign Was the Golden Fleeceiambic tetrameter · AABB · 6 lines To a Friend Who Had Been Much Abused in Many Inveterate Libelsiambic pentameter · AABB · 12 lines Catullus De Lesbiaiambic tetrameter · 11 lines On a Curate's Complaint of Hard Dutyiambic pentameter · 17 lines To Betty, the Grisettetrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 36 lines Epigram from the Frenchiambic tetrameter · 14 lines Epigramanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 10 lines Epigram Added by Stellaiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines Joan Cudgels Nediambic pentameter · AABB · 6 lines Verses on Two Celebrated Modern Poetsiambic tetrameter · AABB · 20 lines Epitaph on General Gorges, and Lady Meathiambic pentameter · AABB · 21 lines Verses on I Know Not Whatiambic tetrameter · AABB · 8 lines Dr. Swift to Himself on St. Cecilia's Dayanapaestic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines An Answer to a Friend's Questioniambic tetrameter · AABB · 16 lines H. S. Eiambic pentameter · 32 lines On Frederick, Duke of Schombergiambic pentameter · 15 lines An Apology to Lady Carteretiambic tetrameter · AABB · 166 lines Inscribed to Lord Carteret 1724iambic tetrameter · AABB · 142 lines On Paddy's Character of the "Intelligencer." 1729iambic tetrameter · AABB · 34 lines An Epistle to His Excellency John, Lord Carteret by Dr. Delany. 1729iambic pentameter · AABB · 97 lines An Epistle upon an Epistleiambic tetrameter · AABB · 129 lines A Libel on the Reverend Dr. Delany, and His Excellency John, Lord Carteret. 1729iambic tetrameter · AABB · 198 lines To Dr. Delany on the Libels Written Against Him. 1729iambic tetrameter · AABB · 172 lines Directions for Making a Birth-Day Song. 1729iambic tetrameter · AABB · 282 lines The Pheasant and the Lark, a Fable by Dr. Delany, 1730iambic tetrameter · AABB · 154 lines Answer to Dr. Delany's Fable of the Pheasant and Lark. 1730iambic tetrameter · AABB · 107 lines Dean Smedley's Petition to the Duke of Graftoniambic tetrameter · 103 lines The Duke's Answer by Dr. Swiftiambic tetrameter · AABB · 54 lines Parody on a Character of Dean Smedley, Written in Latin by Himselfiambic tetrameter · AABB · 67 lines

About this text

Public domain. Text from The Poems of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Volume 1, Project Gutenberg ebook #14353. Free to read, print, copy and reuse.

More by Jonathan Swift

Cadenus and Vanessa, and Other Poems