BOUTS RIMES, a popular term in the French poetry; signifying certain rhymes, disposed in order, and given to a poet together with a subject, to be filled up with verses ending in the same words, and the same order. The invention of the bouts-rimes is owing to one Du Lot, a poet, in the year 1649. In fixing the bouts, it is usual to choose such as seem the remotest, and have the least connection.
Some good authors fancy that these rhymes are of all others the easiest, that they assist the invention, and furnish the most new thoughts of all others. Sarrasin has a poem on the defeat of the bouts-rimes. The academy of Lanternists at Thoulouse have contributed towards keeping in countenance the bouts-rimes, by proposing each year a set of fourteen, to be filled up on the glories of the grand monarque; the victoribus sonnet to be rewarded with a fine medal.—An instance hereof may be given in the following one, filled up by P. Commire.
Tout est grand dans le roi, l'aspect seul de son buste
Rend nos fiers ennemis plus froids que des glaçons.
Et Guillaume n'attend que le temps des moissons,
Pour se voir succomber sous un bras si robuste.
Qu'on ne nous vante plus les miracles d'Auguste;
Louis de bien regner lui feroit des leçons:
Horace en vain l'égale aux dieux dans ses chansons:
Moins que mon héros il eût soye et juste, &c.