738 (Her guide now lost) no more attempts to rise, Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend. MADAM,—It will be in vain to deny that I have some regard for this piece, since I dedicate it to you. Yet you may bear me witness, it was intended only to divert a few young ladies, who have good sense and good-humour enough to laugh not only at their sex's little unguarded follies, but at their own. But as it was communicated with the air of a secret, it soon found its way into the world. An imperfect copy having been offered to a bookseller, you had the good-nature for my sake to consent to the publication of one more correct: this I was forced to, before I had executed half my design, for the machinery was entirely wanting to complete it. The machinery, Madam, is a term invented by the critics, to signify that part which the deities, angels, or demons are made to act in a poem: for the ancient poets are in one respect like many modern ladies: let an action be never so trivial in itself, they always make it appear of the utmost importance. These machines I determined to raise on a very new and odd foundation-the Rosicrucian doctrine of spirits. I know how disagreeable it is to make use of hard words before a lady; but 'tis so much the concern of a poet to have his works understood, and particularly by your sex, that you must give me leave to explain two or three difficult terms. The Rosicrucians are a people I must bring you acquainted with. The best account I know of them is in a French book called 'Le Comte de Gabalis,' which both in its title and size is so like a novel, that many of the fair sex have read it for one by mistake. According to these gentlemen, the four elements are inhabited by spirits, which they call Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders. The Gnomes, or Demons of Earth, delight in mischief; but the Sylphs, whose habitation is in the air, are the best-conditioned creatures imaginable. For they say, any mortals may enjoy the most intimate familiarities with these gentle spirits, upon a condition very easy to all true adeptsan inviolate preservation of chastity. As to the following cantos, all the passages of them are as fabulous as the vision at the beginning, or the transformation at the end; (except the loss of your hair, which I always mention with reverence.) The human persons are as fictitious as the airy ones; and the character of Belinda, as it is now managed, resembles you in nothing but in beauty. If this poem had as many graces as there are in your person, or in your mind, yet I could never hope it should pass through the world half so uncensured as you have done. But let its fortune be what it will, mine is happy enough to have given me this occasion of assuring you that I am, with the truest esteem, Madam, your most obedient, humble servant, A. POPE. CANTO I. WHAT dire offence from amorous causes springs, Say what strange motive, Goddess! could compel 10 'Caryll:' Mr Caryll (a gentleman who was secretary to Queen Mary, wife of James II., whose fortunes he followed into France, author of the comedy of 'Sir Solomon Single,' and of several translations in Dryden's Miscellanies) originally proposed the subject to Pope, with the view of putting an end, by this piece of ridicule, to a quarrel that had arisen between two noble families, those of Lord Petre and of Mrs Fermor, on the trifling occasion of his having cut off a lock of her hair. The author sent it to the lady, with whom he was acquainted; and she took it so well as to give about copies of it. That first sketch (we learn from one of his letters) was written in less than a fortnight, in 1711, in two cantos only, and it was so printed; first, in a miscellany of Ben. Lintot's, without the name of the author. But it was received so well that he enlarged it the next year by the addition of the machinery of the Sylphs, and extended it to five cantos. In tasks so bold, can little men engage, Sol through white curtains shot a timorous ray, Her guardian Sylph1 prolong'd the balmy rest: And thus in whispers said, or seem'd to say: Of thousand bright inhabitants of air! Or virgins visited by angel-powers, With golden crowns and wreaths of heavenly flowers; 30 Sylph': the Rosicrucian philosophy was a strange offshoot from Alchemy, and made up in equal proportions of Pagan Platonism, Christian Quietism, and Jewish Mysticism. See Bulwer's Zanoni.' Pope has blended some of its elements with old legendary stories about guardian angels, fairies, &c. VARIATIONS. VER. 11, 12. It was in the first editions:And dwells such rage in softest bosoms then, And lodge such daring souls in little men? And op'd those eyes which brighter shone Shock just had given himself the rousing shake, the ground, And striking watches the tenth hour resound. Hear and believe! thy own importance know, From earthly vehicles to these of air. Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled, Succeeding vanities she still regards, And though she plays no more, o'erlooks the cards. And love of ombre, after death survive. 'Know further yet; whoever fair and chaste Rejects mankind, is by some Sylph embraced : 35 40 50 60 For spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease Some nymphs there are, too conscious of their face, While peers, and dukes, and all their sweeping train, And in soft sounds, Your Grace' salutes their ear. Oft, when the world imagine women stray, When Florio speaks, what virgin could withstand, 69 80 90 100 Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive, Beaux banish beaux, and coaches coaches drive. |