Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
January 11, 1760
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Satirical verses purportedly posted at Versailles, mocking France's flat-bottomed boats, skinny soldiers on powder diet, devil-wished minister, wheel-worthy generals, and fortunes ruined by women after a maid's earlier aid.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A Version of the French Lines, said to have been stuck up
at Versailles.
There are boats to be sold, whose bottoms are flat,
Soldiers to be hir'd, who are not over fat,
Having long liv'd on Aliment Powder alone,
Whereby they have little besides skin and bone:
A minister that's commonly wish'd at the devil:
Generals that deserve to be broke on the wheel.
Thy good fortunes, O France, and those that perplex,
Were both brought about by the feminine sex:
Thy happiness, once, a Maid did procure;
Thy ruin a Harlot has now made secure.
at Versailles.
There are boats to be sold, whose bottoms are flat,
Soldiers to be hir'd, who are not over fat,
Having long liv'd on Aliment Powder alone,
Whereby they have little besides skin and bone:
A minister that's commonly wish'd at the devil:
Generals that deserve to be broke on the wheel.
Thy good fortunes, O France, and those that perplex,
Were both brought about by the feminine sex:
Thy happiness, once, a Maid did procure;
Thy ruin a Harlot has now made secure.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Epigram
What themes does it cover?
Political
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
France
Soldiers
Minister
Generals
Feminine Sex
Maid
Harlot
Ruin
Versailles
Poem Details
Title
A Version Of The French Lines, Said To Have Been Stuck Up At Versailles.
Subject
French Lines At Versailles
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Thy Good Fortunes, O France, And Those That Perplex,
Were Both Brought About By The Feminine Sex:
Thy Happiness, Once, A Maid Did Procure;
Thy Ruin A Harlot Has Now Made Secure.