A Balliol rhyme is a doggerel verse form with a distinctive metre.
They are written in the voice of the named subject and elaborate on that person's character, exploits or predilections.
[3] The verses were inspired by the conventions of traditional mummers' plays (at their peak of popularity in the late 19th century), in which the dialogue took the form of simple verses, and in which characters introduced themselves on first entrance with some such formula as: "Here comes I a Turkish Knight / Come from the Turkish land to fight".
My face is pink, my hair is sleek, I dine at Blenheim once a week.
[2] About John William Mackail: I am tall and rather stately And I care not very greatly What you say, or what you do.