| Phillis Wheatley (1753–1784). Poems on Various Subjects. 1773. | | | | A Rebus, by I. B. |
| | I. A BIRD delicious to the taste, | |
| On which an army once did feast, | |
| Sent by an hand unseen; | |
| A creature of the horned race, | |
| Which Britain’s royal standards grace; | 5 |
| A gem of vivid green; | |
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II. A town of gaiety and sport, | |
| Where beaux and beauteous nymphs resort, | |
| And gallantry doth reign; | |
| A Dardan hero fam’d of old | 10 |
| For youth and beauty, as we’re told, | |
| And by a monarch slain; | |
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III. A peer of popular applause, | |
| Who doth our violated laws, | |
| And grievances proclaim. | 15 |
| Th’ initials show a vanquish’d town, | |
| That adds fresh glory and renown | |
| To old Britannia’s fame. | | | | |
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