a

a

I fing—This verse to CARYL, Muse! is due; Soft yielding minds to water glide away,
This even Belinda may vouchlafe to view : And sip, with nymphs, their elemental tea.
Slight is the subject, but not so the praise, The graver prude finks downward to a gnome,
If She inspire, and He approve my lays.

In search of mischief still on earth to roam.
Say whatsirangemotive, Goddess! couldcompel The light coquettes in fylphs aloft repair,
A well-bred Lord t'allault a gentle Belle ? And sport and futter in the fields of air.
O say what stranger cause, yet unexplor'd, Know further yet—whoever fair and chaste
Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord? Rejects mankind, is by some fylph embrac'd :
Is tasks so bold can liale men engage * ? For fpirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease
And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty rage?

Assume what sexes and what shapes they please. Sol thro' white curtains shot a tim'rous ray to What guards the purity of melting maids And op'd those eyes that must eclipse the day: In courtly balls and midnight masquerades, Now lapdogs gave themselves the rousing lake; Safe from the treach’rous friend, the daring spark, And leepless lovers, just at twelve, awake: The glance by day, the whisper in the dark, Thrice rung the bell, the flipper knock'd the When kind occasion prompts their warm desires, ground,

When music softens, and when dancing fires ? And the press'd watch return'd a silver found. 'Tis but their fylph, the wise celestials know, Belinda ftill her downy pillow press’d,

Tho' honour is the word with men below. [face, Her guardian Sylph prolong'd the balmy reft- Some nymphs there are, too conscious of their 'Twas He had summon'd to her filent bed For life predestin'd to the gnomes embrace. The morning-dream that hover'd o'er her head. These swell their prospects and exalt their pride, A youth more glitt'ring than a birth-night beau, When offers are disdain'd, and love denied Tnat even in Blumber caus'd her cheek to glow, Then gay ideas crowd the vacant brain, Seem'd to her ear his winning lips to lay, While peers,and dukes, and all their sweepingtrain, And thus in whispers said, or seem'd to say: And garters, stars, and coronets appear,

Fairett of mortals, thou distinguish'd care And in soft sounds “ your grace” salutes their ear. Of thousand bright inhabitants of air !

'Tis thefe that early taint the female soul, If e'er one vision touch thy infant thought, Instruct the eyes of young coquettes to roll, . Of all the Nurse and all the Priest have taught; Teach infant-cheeks a bidden blush to know, Of airy elves by moonlight shadows feen, And little hearts to flutter at a beau. The silver token, and the circled green,

Oft, when the world imagine women stray, Or virgins visited by Angel-pow'rs, [Aow'rs; The fylphs thro' mystic mazes guide their way With golden crowns, and wreaths of heavenly Thro' all the giddy circle they pursue, Hear and believe! thy own importance know, And old impertinence expel by new. Nor bound thy narrow views to things below. What tender maid but must a victim fall Some secret truths, from learned pride conceal’d, To one man's treat, but for another's ball? To maids alone and children are reveal'd: When Florio speaks, what virgin could withstand, What tho' no credit doubting wits may give? If gentle Damon did not squeeze her hand ? The fair and innocent shall still believe. With varying vanities, from ev'ry part, Know then, unnumber'd spirits round thee fly, They shift the moving toy-shop of their heart; The light Militia of the lower sky:

Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots swordThese, tho’unseen, are ever on the wing,

knots strive, Hang o'er thc box, and hover round the ring. Beaux banith beaux, and coaches coaches drive, Think what an equipage thou hast in air, This erring mortals levity may call; And view with scorn two pages and a chair. Oh blind to truth! the Sylphs contrive it all. As now your own, our beings were of old, Of these am I, who thy protection claim ; And once inclos'd in woman's beauteous mould; A watchful sprite, and Ariel is my name. Thence, by a loft transition, we repair

Late as I rang’d the crystal wilds of air, From earthly vehicles to these of air.

In the clear mirror of thy ruling star Think not, when woman's transient breath is filed, I saw, alas ! fome dread event impend, That all her vanities at once are dead;

Ere to the main this morning sun descend; Succeeding vanities she still regards,

But heaven reveals not what, or how, or where: And, tho she plays no more, o'erlooks the cards. Warn’d by thy Sylph, oh pious maid, beware! Her joy in gilded chariots, when alive,

This to discloie is all thy guardian can: And love of ombre, after death survive ; Beware of all, but most beware of man! [long, For when the fair in all their pride expire, He said; when Shock, who thought the slept too To their first clements their fouls retire: Leap'd up, and wak’d his mistress with his tongue, The sprites of fiery termagants in fame

'Twas then, Belinda, if report say true, Mount

up,
and take a salamander's name.

Thy eyes first open’d on a billet-doux;

VARIATIONS. And dwells such rage in softest bosoms then, Shock just had given himself the rousing shake, And lodge such daring souls in little men ? And nymphs prepar'd their chocolate to take; + Sol thro' white curtains did his beams display, Thrice the wrought Nipper knock'd against the ground, And opš those eyes which brighter done than they; And striking watches the tenth hour resound.

Wounds,

a

.

Book 11. Wounds, charms, and ardours,were no sooner read, Th’advent'rous Baron the bright locks admir’d; But all the vision vanith'd from thy head. He saw, he wish'd, and to the prize aspir’d.

And now, unveil'd, the toilet stands display'd; Refolu'd to win, he meditates the way, Each tilver vase in mystic order laid.

By force to ravish, or by fraud betray; First, rob’d in white, the nymph intent adores, For, when success a Lover's toil attends, With head uncover'd, the cosmetic pow'rs : Few ask if fraud or force attain'd his ends. A heavenly image in the glass appears ;

For this, ere Phæbus rose, he had implor'd To that the bends, to that her eyes the rears; Propitious Heaven, and ev'ry pow'r ador'd; Th’inferior priestess, at her altar's fide,

But chiefly Love to Love an altar built Trembling, begins the facred rites of pride. Of twelve vast French romances, neatly gilt. Unnumber'd treasures ope at once, and here There lay three garters, half a pair of gloves ; The various off'rings of the world appear; And all the trophies of his former loves: From each the nicely culls with curious toil, With tender billet-doux he lights the pyre, And decks the goddess with the glittring spoil. And breathes three am'rous fighs to raise the fire. This casket India's glowing gems unlocks, Then proftrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes And all Arabia breathes from yonder box : Soon to obtain, and long possess the prize. The tortoife here and elephant unite,

The pow’rs gave ear, and granted half his pray'r; Transform’diocombs, the fpeckledand the white: The rest, the winds dispers’d in empty air. Here files of pins extend their shining rows, But now secure the painted veffel glides, Puffs, powders, patches, bibles, billet-doux. The sun-beams trembling on the floating tides ; Now awful beauty puts on all its arms; While melting music steals upon the sky, The fair each moment rises in her charms, And soften'd founds along the waters die; Repairs her finilos, awakens ev'ry grace, Smooth flow the waves, the Zephyrs gently play; And calls forth all the wonders of her face : Belinda (mil'd, and all the world was gay. Sees by degrees a purer blush arise,

All but the Sylph-with careful thoughts oppreft,
And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes. Th' impending woe fat heavy on his breast.
The busy Sylphs surround their darling care ; He fummons straight his denizens of air;
Thefe fer the head, and those divide the hair; The lucid squadrons round the fails repair:
Some fold the sleeve, whilst others plait the gown; Soft o'er the shrouds aërial whispers breathe,
And Betty's prais d for labours not her own. That seem'd but Zephyrs to the train beneath.

Some to the fun their infect-wings unfold,
CANTO II.

Waft on the breeze, or sink in clouds of gold;
NOT with more glories, in th'ethereal plain, Transparent forms, too fine for mortal fight,
The sun first rises o'er the purpled main, Their fluid bodies half diffolv'd in light.
Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams Loote to the wind their airy garments fiew,
Launch'd on the hosom of the filver Thumes Thin glitt'ring textures of the filmy dew,
Fair Nymphs, and well-dress’d youths, around her Dipp'd in the vichest tincture of the skies,
But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone. [thone; Where light difports in ever-mingling dyes;
On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore, While ev'ry beam new tranfent colours flings,
Which Jews might kiss, and Infidels adore. Colours that changewhene'er theywavetheirwingsa
Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose, Amid the circle on the gilded mart,
Quick as her eyes, and as unfix'd as those : Superior by the head, was Ariel plac'd;
Favours to none, to all she smiles extends ; His purple pinions op'ning to the sun,
Oft she rejects, but never once offends.

He rais'd his azure wand, and thus begun : Bright as the lun her eyes the gizers strike, Yc Sylphs and Sylphids, to your chief give ear: And, like the sun, they shine on all alike. Fays, fairies, genii, elves, and dæmons hear! Yet graceful ease, and ficetnefs void of pride, Ye know the spheres and various talks aflign'd Might hide her faults, if bellus had faults to hide: By lau's eternal to th’aèrial kind. If to her share fome feinale errors fall,

Soine in the fields of purest æther play, Look on her face, and you'll forget them all. And bask and whiten in the blaze of day :

This Nymph, to the destruction of mankind, Some guide the course of wand'ring orbs on high, Nourish'd two Locks, which graceful hung behind Or roll the planets thro' the boundless lky: In equal curls, and well contpir'd to deck Some, less refind, beneath the moon's pale light, With thining ringlets the fimooth iv'ry neck. Pursue the stars that shoot athwart the night, Love in theic labyrinths his Naves detains, Or fuck the mists in grosser air below, And mighty hearts are held in slender chains. Or dip their pinions in the painted bow, With hairy springes we the birds betray; Or brew ficrce tempests on the wint'ry main, Slight lines of hair furprise the finny prey; Or o'er the glebe diftil the kindly rain : Fair trelics man's imperial race ensuare,

Others on earth o'er human race preside, And beauty draws us with a single hair. Watch all their ways, and all their actions guide:

VARIATION. * From hence to line 46 (The rest the winds dispers'd in empty air) the Poem stood originally; all after, to the end of this Canto, being additional.

Of

Of these the chief the care of nations own, Here Britain's statesmen oft the fall foredoom And guard with arms divine the british throne. Of foreign tyrants, ind of nymphs at home;

Our humbler province is to tend the Fair, Here thou, grcat Anna! whom three realms obey, Ne a lefs picating, tho' less glorious care ; Doft fometimes counsel take, and sometimes tea. To save the powder from too rude a gaic,

Hither the heroes and the nymphs resort, Nr let th' imprison'd eisences exhale;

To tatte awhile the pleasures of a court; To draw freíh colours froin the vernal flow'rs; In various talk th’inftructive hours they pass’d *, To freal from rainbows, ere they drop in thow'rs, Who gave the bail, or paid the visit lait; A frighter wath ; to curl their waring hairs, One speaks the glory of the British Queen, Allist thcir blushes, and inspire their airs; And one describes a charming Indian icreen; Navch, in dreams, invention we bestow, A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes; Tu charge a flounce, or add a furbelow. At ev'ry word a reputation dies.

This day black omens threat the brightest fair Snuff, or the fan, supply each pause of chat; That e'er deferv'd a watchful spirit's care; With singing, laughing, ogling, and all that. Some dire ditaiter, or by force, or flight;

Meanwhile, declining from the noon of day, But what, or where, the fates have wrapt in night. The fun obliquely thoots his burning ray; Whether the nymph fhall break Diana's law, The hungry judges foon the sentence sign, Or fome frail China jar receive a Haw;

And wretches hang, that jurymen may dine; Or itain her honour, or her new brocade; The merchant from th’Exchange returns in peace, Fuget her pray’rs, or miss a masquerade; And the long labours of the toilet cease. Or lote her heart, or necklace, at a ball; [fall. Belinda now, whom thirst of fame invites, Or whether Heaven has doom'd that Shock must Burns to encounter two advent'rous knights Hafte then, ye fpirits ! to your charge repair : At ombre singly to decide their doom; The Butt'ring fan be Zephyretta's carc; And swells her breast with conquests yet to come. The drops to thee, Brillante, we consign; Straight the three bands prepare in arms to join, And, Momentilla, let the watch be thine; Each band the number of the sacred nine. Do thou, Crispilsa, tend her fav'rite Lock; Soon as the spreads her hand, th'aerial guard Ariei himself shall be the guard of Shock. Descend, and fit on each important card :

To fifty chosen Sylphs, of special note, First Ariel perch'd upon a matadore, We trust th’important charge, the Petticoat : Then each according to the rank they bore; Oft have we known that feven-fold fence to fail, For Sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race, Tho'ftiff with hoops,and arm’d with ribs of whale: Are, as when women, wondrous fond of place. Form a strong line about the silver bound,

Bchold, four kings in majcity reverd,
And guard the wide circumference around. With hcary whiskers and a forky beard;

Whatever spirit, careless of his charge, And four fair queens whose hands fustain a flow'r,
His poft neglects, or leaves the fair at large, Th’expreílive emblem of their softer pow'r;
Shall feel tharp vengeance foon o'ertake his sins, Four knaves in garbs succinct, a trusty band,
Be stopp'd in vials, or transfix'd with pins; Caps on their heads, and halberts in their hand;
Or plung'd in lakes of bitter washes lie, And party-colour'd troops, a thining train,
Or wedy'd whole ages in a bodkin's eye: Drawn forth to combat on the velvet plain.
Gums and pomatums fhall his flight restrain, The skilful nymph reviews her force with care:
While clogg d he beats his filken wings in vain ; Let Spades be trumps ! the said, and trumps they
Or alum ftyptics with contracting pow'r
Shrink his thin eilence like a thrivelld flow'r: Now move to war her sable matadores,
Or, as Ixion fix'd, the wretch thall fcel

In show like leaders of the swarthy Moors.
The giddy motion of the whirling mill; Spadillio first, unconquerable lord !
In fumes of burning chocolate Thall glow, Led of two captive trumps, and swept the board.
And tremble at the sea that froths below! As many more Manillio forc'd to yield,

He spoke ; the spirits from the fails descend; And march'd a victor from the verdant field. Some, orb in orb, around the nymph extend; Him Bafto follow'd, but his fate more hard Some thrid the mazy ringłcts of her hair; Gain'd but one trump, and one Plebeian card. Some hang upon the pendants of her ear; With his broad sabre next, a chief in years, With beating hearts the dire event they wait, The hoary Majesty of Spades appears, Anxious, and trembling for the birth of Fate. Puts forth one manly leg, to fight reveal’d,

The reft his many-colour'd robe conceal’d. CANTO III.

The rebel Knave, who dares his prince engage, CLOSE by those meads, for ever crown’d with Proves the juft victim of his royal rage. . (threw, Acw'rs,

E’en mighiy Pam, that Kings and Queens o’cra
Where Thames with pride survevs his rising tow'rs, And moi'd down armies in the fights of Loo,
There stands a structure of majestic frame, [name. Sad chance of war! now defiitute of aid,
Which from the neighb'ring Hamptuul takes its | Falls undistinguish'd by the victor Spade!

VARIATION.
In various talk the cheerful hours they pass'd,
Of, who was bit, or who capotted Last.

Thus

were.

Thus far both armies to Belinda yield; Chang'd to a bird, and sent to fit in air,
Now to the Baron fate inclines the field. She dearly pays for Nisus' injur'd hair!
His warlike Amazon her host invades,

But when to mischief mortals bend their will,
Th'imperial consort of the crown of Spades. How soon they find fit instruments of ill !
The Club's black tyrant first her victim died, Just then Clarissa drew, with tempting grace,
Spite of his haughty mien, and barb'rous pride : A two-edg'd weapon from her shining cafe:
What boots the regal circle on his head;

So Ladies,

romance, assist their Knight,
His giant limbs, in state unwieldy spread; Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.
That long behind he trails his pompous robe, He takes the gift with rev'rence, and extends
And, of all monarchs, only gralps the globe ? The little engine on his fingers ends;
The Baron now his Diamonds pours apace;

This just behind Belinda's neck he spread,
Th’embroider'd King who shews but half his face, As o'er the fragrant steam she bends her head *.
And his refulgent Queen, with pow'rs combin d, Swift to the Lock a thousand Sprites repair,
Of broken troops an easy conquest find.

A thousand wings, by turns, blow back the hair;
Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild disorder seen, And thrice they twitch'd the diamond in her car;
With throngs promiscuous strow the level green. Thrice she look”d back,and thrice the fce drew near.
Thus when dispers’d a routed army runs, Just in that instant, anxious Ariel fought
Of Asia's troops, and Afric's sable fons, The close recesses of the Virgin's thought:
With like confusion diff'rent nations fly, As on the nosegay in her breast reclin'd,
Of various habit, and of various dye;

He watch'd th’ideas rising in her mind,
The pierc'd battalions disunited fall

Sudden he view'd, in spite of all her art,
In heaps on heaps; one fate o'erwhelms them all. An earthly Lover lurking at her heart.

The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, Amaz'd, confus’d, he found his pow'r expir'd;
And wins (oh shameful chance !) the Queen of Resign'd to fate, and with a sigh retir'd.
Hearts.

The Peer now spreads the glitt'ring forfex wide,
At this, the blood the virgin's check forsook; T'inclose the Lock; now joins it to divide.
A livid paleneis spreads o'er all her look ; Ev'n then, before the fatal engine clos'd,
She sees, and trembles at th' approaching ill, A wretched Sylph too fondly interpos d;
Just in the jaws of ruin, and Codille.

Fate urg'd the theers, and cut the Sylph in twain,
And now (as oft in some distemper'd state) But airy substance soon unites again :
On one nice trick depends the gen'rai fate. The meeting points the facred hair dissever
An Ace of Hearts fieps forth : the King, unseen, From the fair head, for ever, and for ever!
Lurk'd in her hand, and mourn'd his captive Then flash'd the living lightning from her eyes,
Queen:

And screams of horror rend th' affrighted skies.
He springs to vengeance with an eager pace, Not louder Ihricks to pitying heaven are cast
And falls like thunder on the proftrate Ace. When husbands or when lapdogs breathe their last;
The Nymph exulting fills with thouts the sky; Or when rich China vessels, fallen from high,
The walls, the woods, and long canals reply. In glitt'ring dust and painted fragments lie !

O thoughtless mortals ! ever blind to fate, Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine.
Too soon dejected, and too foon elate.

The Victor cried; the glorious prize is mine !
Sudden thesc honours shall be snatch'd away, While fish in streams, or birds delight in air,
And curs'd for ever this victorious day.

Or in a coach and fix the British Fair,
For,lo! the board with cupsand Ipoons is crown'd, As long as Atalantis shall be read,
The berries crackle, and the mill turns round: Or the imall pillow grace a Lady's bed ;
On thining altars of Japan they raise

While visits ihall be paid on solcmn days,
The silver lamp; the fiery spirits blaze: When num'rous wax-lights in bright order blaze;
From filver spouts the grateful liquors glide, While nymphs take treats, or assignations give,
While China's earth receives the smoking tide : So long iny honour, name, and praise thall

live!
At once they gratify their scent and taste, What Time would spare, from Steel receives its
And frequent cups prolong the rich repait. And monuments, like men, submit to fate! (date,
Straight hover round the Fair her airy band : Steel could the labour of the Gods destroy,
Some, as the sipp'd, the fuming liquor fann'd; And strike to dust th’imperial tow'rs of Troy;
Some o'er her lap their careful plumes display'd, Steel could the works of mortal pride confound,
Trembling, and conscious of the rich brocade. And hew triumphal arches to the ground.
Coffee (which makes the politician wise, What wonder then, fair Nymph! thy hairs should
And see thro' all things with his half-shut eyes) The conq’ring force of unresiited steel? [feel
Sent up in vapours to the Baron's brain
New stratagems, the radiant Lock to gain.

CANTO IV.
Ah çease, rath youth ! defift ere 'tis too late, BUT anxious cares the penfive nymphoppress'd,
Fear the juf Gods, and think of Scylla's fate! And secret patsions labour'd in her breast.

VARIATION.
* As o'er the fragrant steam she bends her head, The meeting points the sacred hair diffever
First he expands the glitt'ring forfex wide

From the fair head, for ever and for cver) T'inclose the Lock; then joias it to divide :

Not

Not youthful kings in battle seiz'd alive, On various tempers act, by various ways,
Not icornful virgins who their charms survive, Make some take physic, others fcribble plays;
Not ardent lovers robb’d of all their bliss, Who cause the proud their visits to delay,
Not ancient ladies when refus'd a kiss,

And send the godly in a pet to pray:
Not tyrants fierce that unrepenting die, A Nymph there is that all thy pow'r disdains,
Not Cynthia when her mantua's pinn'd awry, And thousands more in equal mirth maintains.
E'er felt such rage, resentment, and despair,

But, oh! if e'er thy Gnome could spoil a grace, As thou, sad Virgin! for thy ravish'd Hair. Or raise a pimple on a beauteous face,

Forthat sad moment, when the Sylphswithdrew, Like citron-waters matrons checks inflame, And Ariel weeping from Belinda few,

Or change complexions at a lofing game; Umbriel, a duiky, melancholy sprite, **

If e'er with airy horns I planted heads, As ever jullied the fair face of light,

Or rumpled petticoats, or tumbled beds, Down to the central earth, his proper scene, Or caus'd luspicion when no loul was rude, Repair’d, to search the gloomy cave of Spleen. Or discompos'd the head-dress of a prude,

Swift on his footy pinions Hics the Gnome, Or e'er to costive lapdog gave disease And in a vapour reach'd the dilmal dome. Which not the tears of brightest eyes could ease; No cheerful breeze this fullen region knows; Hear me, and touch Belinda with chagrin: The dreaded Eaft is all the wind that blows. That single act gives half the world the spleen. Here, in a grotto fhelter'd close from air,

The Goddess, with a discontented air, And screen'd in thades from day's detested glare, Seems to reject him, tho' the grants his

pray'r. She sighs for ever on her pensive bed,

A wondrous bag with both her hands the binds, Pain at her side, and Megrim at her head. Like that where once Ulysses held the winds;

Two handmaids wait the throne ; alike in place, There the collects the force of female lungs, But diffring far in figure and in face.

Sighs, sobs, and passions, and the war of tongues. Here stood Ill-nature, like an ancient maid, A vial next the fills with fainting fears, Her wrinkled form in black and white array'd; Soft forrows, melting griefs, and flowing tears. With store of pray’rs for mornings, nights, and The Gnome rejoicing bears her gifts away, noons,

Spreads his black wings, and Nowly mounts to day. Her hand is fill’d; her bosom with lampoons. Sunk in Thalestris' arms the Nymph he found,

There Affectation, with a sickly mien, Her eyes dejected, and her hair unbound. Shews in her cheek the roles of eighteen; Full o'er their heads the swelling bag he rent, Practis'd to lisp, and hang the head aside,

And all the Furies issued at the vent. Faints into airs, and languishes with pride ; Belinda burns with more than mortal ire, On the rich quilt sinks with becoming woe, And fierce Thalestris fans the rising fire. Wrapt in a gown, for fickness, and for show. O wretched maid! the spread her hands, and cried, The fair ones feel such maladies as these, (While Hampton's echoes, wretched maid! reWhen each new night-dress gives a new disease. Was it for this you took such constant care (plied)

A constant vapour o'er the palace fljes, The bodkin, comb, and eilence, to prepare : Strange phantoms rising as the mists arise ; For this your Locks in paper durance bound, Dreadful as hermits dreams in haunted shades, For this with tort'ring irons wreath'd around! Or bright as visions of expiring maids:

For this with fillets strain’d your tender head,
Now glaring fiends, and Inakes on rolling spires, And bravely bore the double loads of lead !
Pale fpectres, gaping tombs, and purple fires; Gods ! shall the ravither display your hair,
Now lakes of liquid gold, Elysian scenes, While the fops envy, and the ladies ftare!
And crystal domes, and angels in machines. Honour forbid! at whose unrivall'd shrine

Unnumber'd throngs on ev'ry side are seen Ease, pleafure, virtue, all our fex refign.
Of bodies chang'd to various forms by Spleen. Methinks already I your tears survey,
Here living tea-pots stand, one arm held out, Already hear the horrid things they say ;
One bent; the handle this, and that the spout: Already see you a degraded toast,
A pipkin there, like Homer's tripod, walks ; And all your honour in a whisper lost!
Here fighs a jar, and there a goofe-pye talks; How fhall I, then, your helpless fame defend !
Men prove with child, as pow'rful fancy works; 'Twill then be infamy to feem your friend!
And maids, turn'd bottles, call aloud for corks. And shall this prize, th' inestimable prize,

Safe pass'd the Gnome thro' this fantastic band, Expos'd thro' crystal to the gazing eyes,
A branch of healing spleenwort in his hand : And heighten’d by the diamond's circling rays,
Then thus address’d the Pow'r:~Hail, wayward On that rapacious hand for ever blaze?
Queen!

Sooner shall grass in Hyde-park Circus grow, Who rule the sex to fifty from fifteen :

And wits take lodgings in the found of Bow; Parent of vapours, and of female wit,

Sooner let earth, air, Tea, to chaos fall; Who give th' hysteric or poetic fit;

Men, monkeys, lapdogs, parrots, perilh all I

VARIATION.
• While her rack'a soul repose and peace requirer,
The fierce Thaleftris fans the rifing fires,

She

1