To fifty chofen Sylphs, of special note,

121

We trust th' important charge, the Petticoat:
Oft have we known that feven-fold fence to fail,
Tho' ftiff with hoops and arm'd with ribs of whale;
Form a strong line about the filver bound,
And guard the wide circumference around.
Whatever spirit, careless of his charge,
His poft neglects, or leaves the fair at large,
Shall feel sharp Vengeance foon o'ertake his fins,
Be stop'd in vials, or transfix'd with pins;
Or plung'd in lakes of bitter washes lie,
Or wedg'd whole ages in a bodkin's eye:

NOTES.

126

Gums

VER. 118. the Petticoat :] It is impoffible here not to recollect that matchless piece of raillery and exquifite humour, of Addison, in the 127th Spectator, on this important part of female drefs.

WARTON.

VER. 125. Shall feel fharp Vengeance] Our Poet ftill rifes in the delicacy of his fatire, where he employs, with the utmost judg ment and elegance, all the implements and furniture of the toilette, as inftruments of punishment to those spirits, who shall be careless of their charge; of punishment, fuch as Sylphs alone could undergo. WARTON.

This is indeed one of the most happy fpecimens of Pope's poetical fancy, and invention.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 119. clypei dominus feptemplicis Ajax. OVID.

WARBURTON.

VER. 121. about the filver bound,] In allufion to the shield of Achilles :

"Thus the broad fhield complete the Artist crown'd,
With his laft hand, and pour'd the Ocean round:

In living Silver feem'd the waves to roll,

And beat the Buckler's verge, and bound the whole.

VOL. I.

Y

WARBURTON,

Gums and Pomatums fhall his flight reftrain,

While clog'd he beats his filken wings in vain; 130
Or Alum styptics with contracting pow'r

Shrink his thin effence like a rivel'd flow'r:
Or, as Ixion fix'd, the wretch fhall feel
The giddy motion of the whirling Mill,
In fumes of burning Chocolate fhall glow,
And tremble at the fea that froths below!

He fpoke; the fpirits from the fails defcend;
Some, orb in orb, around the nymph extend;
Some thrid the mazy ringlets of her hair;
Some hang upon the pendants of her ear;
With beating hearts the dire event they wait,
Anxious, and trembling for the birth of Fate.

1

135

140

THE RAPE OF THE LOCK.

CLOSE

CANTO III.

LOSE by thofe meads, for ever crown'd with flow'rs,

Where Thames with pride furveys his rifing tow'rs,
There stands a structure of majestic frame,
Which from the neighb'ring Hampton takes its name.
Here Britain's ftatefmen oft the fall foredoom

5

10

Of foreign Tyrants, and of Nymphs at home;
Here thou, great ANNA! whom three realms obey,
Doft fometimes counsel take-and fometimes Tea.
Hither the Heroes and the Nymphs refort,
To taste a while the pleasures of a Court;
In various talk th' inftructive hours they past,
Who gave the ball, or paid the visit last ;
One speaks the glory of the British Queen,
And one describes a charming Indian screen;
A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes;
At ev'ry word a reputation dies.

15

Snuff,

VARIATIONS.

VER. 1. Clofe by thofe meads,] The firft Edition continues from

this line to ver. 24. of this Canto.

РОРЕ.

VER. 11, 12. Originally in the first Edition,

In various talk the chearful hours they past,
Of, who was bit, or who capotted laft.

POPE.

Snuff, or the fan, fupply each pause of chat,
With finging, laughing, ogling, and all that.

Mean while, declining from the noon of day,
The fun obliquely fhoots his burning ray;
The hungry Judges foon the fentence fign,
And wretches hang that Jury-men may dine;

20

The merchant from th' Exchange returns in peace,
And the long labours of the Toilet cease.
Belinda now, whom thirst of fame invites,
Burns to encounter two advent'rous Knights,
At Ombre fingly to decide their doom;
And fwells her breaft with conquefts yet to come.
Straight the three bands prepare in arms to join,
Each band the number of the facred Nine.

Soon as the spreads her hand, th' aërial guard
Defcend, and fit on each important card:
Firft Ariel perch'd upon a Matadore,

25

30

Then each according to the rank they bore;

For Sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race,

35

Are, as when women, wond'rous fond of place.

Behold, four Kings, in majesty rever'd, With hoary whiskers and a forky beard;

And

VARIATIONS.

VER. 24. And the long labours of the Toilet ceafe.] All that fol lows of the game at Ombre, was added fince the firft Edition, till ver. 105. which connected thus,

Sudden the board with cups and spoons is crown'd. POPE.

NOTES.

VER. 22. And wretches hang] From Congreve.

WARTON.

And four fair Queens whofe hands fustain a flow'r,
Th' expreffive emblem of their softer pow'r;
Four Knaves in garbs fuccinct, a trusty band;
Caps on their heads, and halberts in their hand;
And party-colour'd troops, a fhining train,
Draw forth to combat on the velvet plain.

40

The skilful Nymph reviews her force with care: Let Spades be trumps! she said, and trumps they were. Now move to war her fable Matadores,

In fhow like leaders of the fwarthy Moors.
Spadillio firft, unconquerable Lord!

47

Led off two captive trumps, and swept the board.
As many more Manillio forc'd to yield,

51

And march'd a victor from the verdant field.

Him Bafto follow'd, but his fate more hard

Gain'd but one trump and one Plebeian card.
With his broad fabre next, a chief in years,
The hoary Majesty of Spades appears,
Puts forth one manly leg, to fight reveal'd,
The reft, his many-colour'd robe conceal'd..

55

The rebel Knave, who dares his prince engagé,
Proves the just victim of his royal rage.

60

Ev'n mighty Pam, that Kings and Queens o'erthrew, And mow'd down armies in the fights of Lu,

Sad chance of war! now destitute of aid,

Falls undistinguish'd by the victor Spade!

NOTES.

Thus

VER. 53. Him Bafto follow'd,] The magnificent and majeflic ftyle in which this game of cards is defcribed, artfully and finely heightens the ridicule.

WARTON.