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And now, unveil'd, the Toilet ftands display'd,`
Each filver Vafe in myftic order laid.

First, rob'd in white, the Nymph intent adores,
With head uncover'd, the Cosmetic pow'rs.
A heav'nly Image in the glass appears,

To that she bends, to that her eyes fhe rears;

125

Th

VER. 121. And now, unveil'd, etc.] The tranflation of thefe verses, containing the defcription of the toilette, by our Author's friend Dr. Parnelle, deserve for their humour, to be here inferted. P.

Et nunc dilectum fpeculum, pro more retectum,
Emicat in menfa, quæ fplendet pyxide denía :
Tum primum lympha, fe purgat candida Nympha,
Jamque fine menda, cœleftis imago videnda,
Nuda caput, bellos retinet, regit, implet ocellos..
Hæc ftupet explorans, ceu cultûs numen adorans.
Inferior claram Pythoniffa apparet ad aram,
Fertque tibi caute, dicatque Superbia! laute,
Dona venufta; oris, quæ cunctis, plena laboris,
Excerpta explorat, dominamque deamque decorat.
Pyxide devota, fe pandit hic India tota,
Et tota ex ifta tranfpirat Arabia cista;
Teftudo hic flectit, dum fe mea Lesbia pectit;
Atque elephas lente, te pectit Lesbia dente;
Hunc maculis noris, nivei jacet ille coloris.
Hic jacet et munde, mundus muliebris abunde ;
Spinula refplendens æris longo ordine pendens,
Pulvis fuavis odore, et epiftola fuavis amore.
Induit arma ergo Veneris pulcherrima virgo;
Pulchrior in præfens tempus de tempore crefcens ;
Jam reparat rifus, jam furgit gratia vifus,
Jam promit cultu, mirac'la latentia vultu ;
Pigmina jam mifcet, quo plus fua Purpura glifcet,
Et geminans bellis fplendet mage fulgor ocellis.
Stant Lemures muti, Nymphæ intentique faluti,
Hic figit Zonam, capiti locat ille Coronam,
Hæc manicis formam, plicis dat et altera normam;
Et tibi vel Betty, tibi vel nitidiffima Letty!
Gloria factorum temere conceditur horum.

Th' inferior Prieftefs, at her altar's fide,
Trembling, begins the facred rites of Pride.
Unnumber'd treasures ope at once, and here
The various off'rings of the world appear;
From each fhe nicely culls with curious toil,
And decks the Goddess with the glitt'ring spoil.
This casket India's glowing gems unlocks,
And all Arabia breathes from yonder box.
The Tortoife here and Elephant unite,

;

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135

Transform'd to combs, the fpeckled, and the white.
Here files of pins extend their fhining rows,
Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux.
Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms;
The fair each moment rises in her charms,
Repairs her fmiles, awakens ev'ry grace,
And calls forth all the wonders of her face;
Sees by degrees a purer blush arise,

140

And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes.
The bufy Sylphs furround their darling care, 145
These set the head, and those divide the hair,
Some fold the fleeve, whilft others plait the gown;
And Betty's prais'd for labours not her own.

VER. 145. The bufy Sylphs, etc.] Antient Traditions of the Rabbi's relate, that feveral of the fallen Angels became amorous of Women, and particularly fome; among the reft Afael, who lay with Naamah, the wife of Noah, or of Ham; and who continuing impenitent, ftill prefides over the Women's Toilets. Berefhi Rabbi in Genef. vi. 2.

P.

THE

THE

RAPE of the LOCK.

NOT

CANTO II.

OT with more glories, in th' etherial plain,
The Sun first rises o'er the purpled main,

Than, iffuing forth, the rival of his beams
Launch'd on the bofom of the filver Thames.

Fair Nymphs, and well-dreft Youths around her fhone,

But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone.

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On her white breast a sparkling Crofs fhe wore,.
Which Jews might kifs, and Infidels adore.
Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose,
Quick as her eyes, and as unfix'd as those:
Favours to none, to all fhe fmiles extends
Oft she rejects, but never once offends.
Bright as the fun, her eyes the gazers strike,
And, like the fun, they fhine on all alike.
Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride 15
Might hide her faults, if Belles had faults to hide :
If to her share fome female errors fall,

Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all.

VARIATIONS.

VER. 4. Launch'd on

This

the bofom] From hence the poem

continues, in the firft Edition, to v. 46.

The reft the winds difpers'd in empty air,

all after, to the end of this Canto, being additional. P.

21

This Nymph, to the deftruction of mankind, Nourish'd two Locks, which graceful hung behind In equal curls, and well confpir'd to deck With fhining ringlets the smooth iv'ry neck. Love in thefe labyrinths his flaves detains, And mighty hearts are held in flender chains. With hairy springes we the birds betray, Slight lines of hair furprize the finny prey, Fair treffes man's imperial race infnare, And beauty draws us with a fingle hair.

25

Th' advent'rous Baron the bright locks admir'd; He faw, he wifh'd, and to the prize aspir'd. Refolv'd to win, he meditates the way,

By force to ravish, or by fraud betray;
For when fuccefs a Lover's toil attends,
Few afk, if fraud or force attain'd his ends.
For this, ere Phoebus rofe, he had implor'd
Propitious heav'n, and ev'ry pow'r ador'd,
But chiefly Love-to Love an Altar built,
Of twelve vaft French Romances, neatly gilt.
There lay three garters, half a pair of gloves;
And all the trophies of his former loves;
With tender Billet-doux he lights the pyre,
And breathes three am'rous fighs to raise the fire.
Then proftrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes
Soon to obtain, and long poffefs the prize:

IMITATIONS.

30

35

40

The

VER. 25. With hairy Springes] In allufion to Ana

creon's manner.

VER. 28. with a fingle hair.] In allufion to thofe lines of Hudibras, applied to the fame purpose,

And tho' it be a two foot Trout,
'Tis with a fingle hair pull'd out.-

The pow'rs gave ear, and granted half his pray'r, The reft, the winds difpers'd in empty air.

46

50

But now secure the painted veffel glides, The fun-beams trembling on the floating tides : While melting mufic steals upon the sky, And foften'd founds along the waters die; Smooth flow the waves, the Zephyrs gently play, Belinda fmil'd, and all the world was gay. All but the Sylph-with careful thoughts oppreft, Th' impending woe fat heavy on his breast. He fummons ftrait his Denizens of air; The lucid fquadrons round the fails repair; Soft o'er the shrouds aërial whispers breathe, That seem'd but Zephyrs to the train beneath. Some to the fun their infect-wings unfold, Waft on the breeze, or fink in clouds of gold; Tranfparent forms, too fine for mortal fight, Their fluid bodies half diffolv'd in light. Loose to the wind their airy garments flew, Thin glitt'ring textures of the filmy dew, Dipt in the richest tincture of the skies, Where light difports in ever-mingling dyes, While ev'ry beam new tranfient colours flings, Colours that change whene'er they wave their wings. Amid the circle, on the gilded mast,

61

65

Superior by the head, was Ariel plac'd;

His purple pinions op'ning to the fun,

He rais'd his azure wand, and thus begun.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 45. The pow'rs gave ear,] Virg. Æn. xi.

5

70

Ye

P.

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