Form a strong line about the silver bound,

And guard the wide circumference around.

• Whatever spirit, careless of his charge,

His post neglects, or leaves the fair at large, Shall feel sharp vengeance soon o'ertake his sins,

Be stopp'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:

Gums and pomatums shall his flight restrain, While clogg'd he beats his silken wings in vain;

Or alum styptics with contracting pow'r

Shrink his thin essence like a rivel'd flow'r:

Or, as Ixion fix'd, the wretch shall feel
The giddy motion of the whirling mill,
In fumes of burning chocolate shall glow,
And tremble at the sea that froths below!'

He spoke; the spirits from the sails descend;

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.

THE

RAPE OF THE LOCK.

CANTO III.