Skip to content
Linespedia

A Conference, Between Sir Harry Pierce's Chariot, And Mrs. D. Stopford's Chair [1]

By Jonathan Swift

Topics: classic

CHARIOT     My pretty dear Cuz, tho' I've roved the town o'er,     To dispatch in an hour some visits a score;     Though, since first on the wheels, I've been every day     At the 'Change, at a raffling, at church, or a play;     And the fops of the town are pleased with the notion     Of calling your slave the perpetual motion; -     Though oft at your door I have whined [out] my love     As my Knight does grin his at your Lady above;     Yet, ne'er before this, though I used all my care,     I e'er was so happy to meet my dear Chair;     And since we're so near, like birds of a feather,     Let's e'en, as they say, set our horses together.     CHAIR     By your awkward address, you're that thing which should carry,     With one footman behind, our lover Sir Harry.     By your language, I judge, you think me a wench;     He that makes love to me, must make it in French.     Thou that's drawn by two beasts, and carry'st a brute,     Canst thou vainly e'er hope, I'll answer thy suit?     Though sometimes you pretend to appear with your six,     No regard to their colour, their sexes you mix:     Then on the grand-paw you'd look very great,     With your new-fashion'd glasses, and nasty old seat.     Thus a beau I have seen strut with a cock'd hat,     And newly rigg'd out, with a dirty cravat.     You may think that you make a figure most shining,     But it's plain that you have an old cloak for a lining.     Are those double-gilt nails? Where's the lustre of Kerry,     To set off the Knight, and to finish the Jerry?     If you hope I'll be kind, you must tell me what's due     In George's-lane for you, ere I'll buckle to.     CHARIOT     Why, how now, Doll Diamond, you're very alert;     Is it your French breeding has made you so pert?     Because I was civil, here's a stir with a pox:     Who is it that values your    -    -    or your fox?     Sure 'tis to her honour, he ever should bed     His bloody red hand to her bloody red head.     You're proud of your gilding; but I tell you each nail     Is only just tinged with a rub at her tail;     And although it may pass for gold on a ninny,     Sure we know a Bath shilling soon from a guinea.     Nay, her foretop's a cheat; each morn she does black it,     Yet, ere it be night, it's the same with her placket.     I'll ne'er be run down any more with your cant;     Your velvet was wore before in a mant,     On the back of her mother; but now 'tis much duller, -     The fire she carries hath changed its colour.     Those creatures that draw me you never would mind,     If you'd but look on your own Pharaoh's lean kine;     They're taken for spectres, they're so meagre and spare,     Drawn damnably low by your sorrel mare.     We know how your lady was on you befriended;     You're not to be paid for 'till the lawsuit is ended:     But her bond it is good, he need not to doubt;     She is two or three years above being out.     Could my Knight be advised, he should ne'er spend his vigour     On one he can't hope of e'er making bigger.

AI analysis available. Enable JavaScript to interact.

About this line

"CHARIOT..."

Jonathan Swift's contribution to classic is further solidified by the brilliance found in "A Conference, Between Sir Harry Pierce's Chariot, And Mrs. D. Stopford's Chair [1]"... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

Attribution & Rights

Author:Jonathan Swift

"CHARIOT..." by Jonathan Swift

For usage rights, copyright concerns, or to report an issue with this content, please visit our Copyright & Report page.

Related lines

"The glass, by lovers' nonsense blurr'd,         Dims and obscures our sight;     So, when our passions Love has stirr'd,         It darkens Rea"

"BEING AN EXCELLENT NEW SONG UPON THE SURRENDER OF DUNKIRK TO GENERAL HILL     1712     To the tune of "The King shall enjoy his own again.""

"WRITTEN IN APRIL 1709, AND FIRST PRINTED IN "THE TATLER"[1]     Now hardly here and there an hackney-coach     Appearing, show'd the ruddy mor"

"Fluttering spread thy purple pinions,         Gentle Cupid, o'er my heart:     I a slave in thy dominions;         Nature must give way to art."

"Here morning in the ploughman's songs is met     Ere yet one footstep shows in all the sky,     And twilight in the east, a doubt as yet,     S"

"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

Jonathan Swift

About Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) was an Irish satirist, essayist, and poet. Best known for "Gulliver's Travels," his poetry includes "A Description of a City Shower" and "Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift." His sharp wit and moral indignation made him one of the greatest satirists in English.

Full Bibliography
Continue Reading

"The glass, by lovers' nonsense blurr'd,         Di..."

Weekly Poetic Insight

Join our literary Sanctuary

Get the most inspiring lines, poetic analysis, and secret shayaris delivered to your inbox every Sunday.