Sad chance of war! now deftitute of aid,
Falls undistinguish'd by the victor Spade!
"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 first her victim dy'd,
Spite of his haughty mien, and barbarous 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?

The Baron now his Diamonds pours apace;
Th' embroider'd King who fhews but half his face,
And his refulgent Queen, with powers combin'd,
Of broken troops an eafy conqueft find. `
Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild diforder feen,
With throngs promifcuous ftrow the level green.
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,

In heaps on heaps; one fate o'erwhelms them all.
The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts,

65

70

75

80

85

90

And wins (oh fhameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts.
At this, the blood the virgin's cheek forfook,
A livid palenefs spreads o'er all her look;
She fees, and trembles at th' approaching ill,
Juft in the jaws of ruin, and Codille,

And

And now (as oft in some distemper'd state),
On one nice trick depends the general fate,

95

An Ace of Hearts steps forth: the King unfeen
Lurk'd in her hand, and mourn'd his captive Queen: 1
He springs to vengeance with an eager pace,
And falls like thunder on the prostrate Ace.
The Nymph exulting fills with fhouts the sky;
The walls, the woods, and long canals reply.
O thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate,
Too foon dejected, and too foon elate:
Sudden, thefe honours fhall be snatch'd away,
And curs'd for ever this victorious day,

For lo! the board with cups and spoons is crown'd, The berries crackle, and the mill turns round :

On fhining Altars of Japan they raise ¦
The filver lamp; the fiery fpirits blaze:
From filver Spouts the grateful liquors glide,
While China's earth receives the fmoaking tide:
At once they gratify their fcent and taste,
And frequent cups prolong the rich repast.
Strait hover round the Fair her airy band;
Some, as the fipp'd, the fuming liquor fann'd,
Some o'er her lap their careful plumes display'd,
Trembling, and conscious of the rich brocade.
Coffee (which makes the politician wife,
And fee through all things with his half-shut eyes)

VARIATION..

115

Sent

Ver. 105. Sudden the board, &c.] From hence the

first edition continues to ver, 134.

Sent up

in vapours to the Baron's brain Now Itatagous, the radiant Lock to gain. Al conte, rath youth! dedit ere 'tis too late, Feu du just crods, and think of Scylla's fate! chagid to a bird, and sent to fit in air,

120

125

Volta's neck de ipread,

cams he bends her text.

Tock a showland Sprites repair

I wings, by turns, blow back the air.

chrice they twitch'd the diamond in her earp

135

Are the look`d back, and thrice the foe de NERE.

Ver. 134. In the first edition it was thus:
As o'er the fragrant ftream the bends her head,
First he expands the glittering forfex wide
T'inclofe the Lock; then joins it to divide:
The meeting points the facred hair diffever,

Fair head, for ever and for ever. Ver, 154.

n was added afterwards.

As on the nofegay in her breast reclin d,
He watch'd th' ideas rifing in her mind,
Sudden he view'd, in fpite of all her art,
An earthly lover lurking at her heart.
Amaz'd, confus'd, he found his power expir'd,
Refign'd to fate, and with a figh retir’d.

The Peer now fpreads the guttering forfex wide,
T'inclofe the Lock; now joins it, to divide.
Ev'n then, before the fatal engine clos'd,
A wretched Sylph too fondly interpos'd;

Fate urged the sheers, and cut the Sylph in twain
(But airy fubftance foon unites again),

The meeting points the facred hair diffever
From the fair head, for ever, and for ever!

745

150

Then flash'd the living lightning from her eyes, 155
And screams of horror rend th' affrighted skies.
Not louder shrieks to pitying heaven are caft,
When husbands, or when lap-dogs, breathe their laft!
Or when rich China vessels fall'n from high,
In glittering dust and painted fragments lie!

Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine
(The Victor cry'd), the glorious Prize is mine!
While fish in streams, or birds delight in air,
Or in a coach and fix the British Fair,
As long as Atalantis shall be read,
Or the small pillow grace a Lady's bed,

.

160

165

While vifits fhall be paid on folemn days,
When numerous wax-lights in bright order blaze,
While nymphs take treats, or affignations give,
So long my honour, name, and praise, shall live! 170

What

What Time would fpare, from Steel receives its date,
And monuments, like men, fubmit to fate!
Steel could the labour of the Gods destroy,
And strike to duft th' imperial towers of Troy;
Steel could the works of mortal pride confound,
And hew triumphal arches to the ground.

175

What wonder then, fair Nymph! thy hairs should feel The conquering force of unresisted steel ?

BUT

CANTO IV.

UT anxious cares the penfive Nymph opprefs'd,
And fecret paffions labour'd in her breast.
Not youthful kings in battle feiz'd alive,

Not fcornful virgins who their charms furvive,
Not ardent lovers robb'd of all their blifs,
Not ancient ladies when refus'd a kiss,
Not tyrants fierce that unrepenting die,
Not Cynthia when her manteau's pinn'd awry,
E'er felt fuch rage, resentment, and despair,
As thou, fad Virgin! for thy ravish'd Hair.

For, that fad moment, when the Sylphs withdrew, And Ariel weeping from Belinda flew,

VARIATION.

ΤΟ

Umbriel,

Ver. 11. For, that fad moment, &c.] All the lines from hence to the 94th verfe, defcribe the house of Spleen, and are not in the first edition; instead of them followed only these :·

While her rack'd Soul repofe and peace requires,
The fierce Thaleftris fans the rifing fires.

and continued at the 94th verse of this Canto.