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And fhall this prize, th' ineftimable prize,
Expos'd thro' crystal to the gazing eyes,
And heighten'd by the diamond's circling rays, 115
On that rapacious hand for ever blaze!
Sooner fhall grafs in Hyde-park Circus grow,
And wits take lodgings in the found of Bow;
Sooner let earth, air, sea, to Chaos fall,

Men, monkeys, lap-dogs, parrots, perish all! 120
She faid; then raging to Sir Plume repairs,
And bids her Beau demand the precious hairs:
(Sir Plume of amber fnuff-box juftly vain,
And the nice conduct of a clouded cane)

With earnest eyes, and round unthinking face, 125
He firft the fnuff-box open'd, then the case;

= And thus broke out-" My Lord, why, what the "devil?

"Z-ds! damn the lock! 'fore Gad, you must be

66

"civil!

Plague on't! 'tis paft a jeft-nay prithee, pox! "Give her the hair"-he spoke, and rapp'd his box. It grieves me much (reply'd the Peer again) 131 Who fpeaks fo well fhould ever speak in vain. But by this Lock, this facred Lock I swear, (Which never more shall join its parted hair; Which never more its honours shall renew, Clip'd from the lovely head where late it grew)

IMITATIONS.

135

VER. 133. But by this Lock,] In allufion to Achilles's oath

in Homer, Il. i.

That while my noftrils draw the vital air,
This hand, which won it, shall for ever wear.
He spoke, and fpeaking, in proud triumph spread
The long-contended honours of her head.

140

But Umbriel, hateful Gnome! forbears not fo;
He breaks the Vial whence the forrows flow.
Then fee! the nymph in beauteous grief appears,
Her eyes half-languishing, half-drown'd in tears;
On her heav'd bofom hung her drooping head, 145
Which, with a figh, she rais'd; and thus she said,
For ever curs'd be this detefted day,

Which fnatch'd my beft, my fav'rite curl away!
Happy! ah ten times happy had I been,

If Hampton-Court these eyes had never seen! 150
Yet am not I the firft miftaken maid;

By love of Courts to num'rous ills betray'd.
Oh had I rather un-admir'd remain'd

155.

In forme lone ifle, or diftant Northern land ; Where the gilt Chariot never marks the way, Where none learn Ombre, none e'er taste Bohea! There kept my charms conceal'd from mortal eye, Like rofes, that in deferts bloom and die.

VER. 141. But Umbriel, bateful Gnome! forbears not fo; He breaks the Vial whence the forrows flow.] These two lines are additional; and affign the caufe of the different operation on the Paffions of the two Ladies. The poem went on before without that diftinction, as without any Machinery to the end of the Canto.

What mov'd my mind with youthful Lords to roam ? O had I ftay'd, and faid my pray'rs at home! 160 'Twas this, the morning omens feem'd to tell, Thrice from my trembling hand the patch-box fell; The tott'ring China fhook without a wind,

170

Nay Poll fat mute, and Shock was most unkind!
A Sylph too warn'd me of the threats of fate, 165
In myftic vifions, now believ'd too late!
See the poor remnants of these flighted hairs!
My hands fhall rend what ev'n thy rapine spares:
These in two fable ringlets taught to break,
Once gave new beauties to the snowy neck;
The fifter-lock now fits uncouth, alone,
And in its fellow's fate forefees its own;
Uncurl'd it hangs, the fatal sheers demands,
And tempts, once more, thy facrilegious hands.
Oh hadft thou, cruel! been content to seize
Hairs lefs in fight, or any hairs but these !

175

THE

RAPE of the LOCK.

CANTO V.

HE faid: the pitying audience melt in tears.
But Fate and Jove had stopp d the Baron's ears.

In vain Thaleftris with reproach affails,

For who can move when fair Belinda fails?
Not half fo fix'd the Trojan could remain,
While Anna begg'd and Dido rag'd in vain.
Then grave Clarissa graceful wav'd her fan ;
Silence enfu'd, and thus the nymph began.

II

Say why are Beauties prais'd and honour'd moft, The wife man's paffion, and the vain man's toast ? Why deck'd with all that land and fea afford, Why Angels call'd, and Angel-like ador'd? Why round our coaches croud the white-glov'd Beaux,

Why bows the fide-box from its inmost rows?

VARIATIONS.

VER. 7. Then grave Clarifja, etc.] A new Character introduced in the fubfequent Editions, to open more clearly the MORAL of the Poem, in a parody of the fpeech of Sarpedon to Glaucus in Homer,

5

15

How vain are all these glories, all our pains, Unless good fense preserve what beauty gains: That men may fay, when we the front box grace, Behold the firft in virtue as in face!

Oh! if to dance all night, and dress all day, Charm'd the small-pox, or chas'd old-age away; 20 Who would not fcorn what housewife's cares produce,

25

Or who would learn one earthly thing of use?
To patch, nay ogle, might become a Saint,
Nor could it fure be fuch a fin to paint.
But fince, alas! frail beauty muft decay,
Curl'd or uncurl'd, fince Locks will turn to grey;
Since painted, or not painted, all shall fade,
And she who scorns a man, must die a maid;
What then remains but well our pow'r to use,
And keep good-humour ftill whate'er we lofe? 30
And trust me, dear! good-humour can prevail,
When airs, and flights, and fcreams, and scolding
fail.

Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll ;

Charms ftrike the fight, but merit wins the foul.

So fpoke the Dame, but no applause enfu'd; 35 Belinda frown'd, Thaleftris call'd her Prude.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 35. So fpoke the Dame,] It is a verfe frequently re peated in Homer after any specch,

So fpoke and all the Heroes applauded.

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