THE

RAPE of the LOCK.

CLOSE

CANTO III.

LOSE by thofe meads, for ever crown'd with flow'rs,

Where Thames with pride furveys his rifing tow'rs, There stands a structure of majestic frame, Which from the neighb'ring Hampton takes its

name.

Here Britain's statesmen oft the fall foredoom

5

Of foreign Tyrants, and of Nymphs at home; Here thou, greatANNA! whom three realms obey, Doft fometimes counsel take--and fometimesTea.

Hither the Heroes and the Nymphs resort, To taste awhile the pleasures of a Court; In various talk th' instructive hours they past, Who gave the ball, or paid the visit last ;

VARIATIONS.

10

VER. 1. Clofe by thofe meads,] The first Edition continues from this line to ver. 24. of this Canto.

P.

VER. II, 12. Originally in the first Edition,

"In various talk the chearful hours they paft,
"Of, who was bit, or who capotted last." P.

One fpeaks the glory of the British Queen,
And one describes a charming Indian screen;
A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes; 15
At ev'ry word a reputation dies.

20

Snuff, or the fan, fupply each pause of chat,
With finging, laughing, ogling, and all that.
Mean while, declining from the noon of day,
The fun obliquely fhoots his burning ray;
The hungry Judges foon the sentence fign,
And wretches hang that Jury-men may dine;
The merchant from th'Exchange returns in peace,
And the long labours of the Toilet cease.

Belinda

now, whom thirst of fame invites, Burns to encounter two advent'rous Knights, At Ombre fingly to decide their doom;

25

And fwells her breaft with conquefts yet to come.
Strait the three bands prepare in arms to join,
Each band the number of the facred nine.
Soon as she spreads her hand, th' aërial guard
Defcend, and fit on each important card :

30

VARIATIONS.

VER. 24. And the long labours of the Toilet ceafe.] All that follows of the game at Ombre, was added fince the first Edition, till ver. 105. which connected thus,

"Sudden the board with cups and fpoons is crown'd." P.

First Ariel perch'd upon a Matadore,

Then each according to the rank they bore;
For Sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race, 35
Are, as when women, wond'rous fond of place.
Behold, four Kings in majesty rever'd,
With hoary whiskers and a forky beard;

And four fair Queens whofe hands sustain a flow'r,
Th'expreffive emblem of their fofter pow'r; 40
Four Knaves in garbs fuccinct, a trusty band;
Caps on their heads, and halberts in their hand;
And parti-colour'd troops, a fhining train,
Draw forth to combat on the velvet plain.

The skilful Nymph reviews her force with care: Let Spades be trumps! she said, and trumps they

were.

Now move to war her fable Matadores, In fhow like leaders of the fwarthy Moors. Spadillio firft, unconquerable Lord!

46

Led off two captive trumps, and swept the board. As many more Manillio forc'd to yield,

And march'd a victor from the verdant field.

NOTES.

VER, 47. Now move to war, etc.] The whole idea of this defcription of a game at Ombre, is taken from Vida's defcription of a game at Chefs, in his poem intit. Scacchia Ludus.

Him Bafto follow'd, but his fate more hard
Gain'd but one trump and one Plebeian card.
With his broad fabre next, a chief in years, 55
The hoary Majesty of Spades appears,
Puts forth one manly leg, to fight reveal'd,
The reft, his many-colour'd robe conceal'd.
The rebel Knave, who dares his prince engage,
Proves the just victim of his royal rage.
Ev'n mighty Pam, that Kings and Queens o'er-

threw,

And mow'd down armies in the fights of Lu,
Sad chance of war! now deftitute of aid,
Falls undistinguish'd by the victor Spade!

бо

65

Thus far both armies to Belinda yield; Now to the Baron fate inclines the field. His warlike Amazon her host invades, Th' imperial confort of the crown of Spades. The Club's black Tyrant firft her victim dy'd, Spite of his haughty mien, and barb'rous pride: What boots the regal circle on his head, His giant limbs, in ftate unwieldy spread; That long behind he trails his pompous robe, And, of all monarchs, only grafps the globe?

71

The Baron now his Diamonds pours apace ; 75 Th'embroider'd King who shews but half his face,

green.

And his refulgent Queen, with pow'rs combin'd
Of broken troops an easy conquest find.
Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild diforder feen,
With throngs promifcuous ftrow the level
Thus when difpers'd a routed army runs,
Of Afia's troops, and Afric's fable fons,
With like confusion different nations fly,
Of various habit, and of various dye;
The pierc'd battalions difunited fall,

81

85

In heaps on heaps; one fate o'erwhelms them all. The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, And wins (oh shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts.

90

At this, the blood the virgin's cheek forfook,
A livid paleness spreads o'er all her look ;
She fees, and trembles at th' approaching ill,
Juft in the jaws of ruin, and Codille.
And now (as oft in fome diftemper'd State)
On one nice Trick depends the genʼral fate :
An Ace of Hearts steps forth: The King unfeen 95
Lurk'd in her hand, and mourn'd his captive

Queen :

He springs to vengeance with an eager pace,
And falls like thunder on the proftrate Ace.