MUTATIS MUTANDIS.

Spinster and Minister,
Knight and Dame,
Monsieur and Mademoiselle,
D'Eon in male and female fame
By turns has born the bell.

Adroit to act on either plan;
Smile nymph, or hero vapour;
And pass with ease from sword to fan,
From pistol to thread-paper!

Genius meanwhile, alert, tho' strange,
Preserves its equal claim:---
'Tis mere dexterity of change
Proves D'Eon still the same.



-Samuel Bishop (1731-1795): Epigram CLIII, from The Poetical Works (1796)