Straight the three bands prepare in arms to join, Each band the number of the sacred Nine. Soon as she spreads her hand, th' aërial guard 31 Descend, and sit on each important card: race, Are, as when women, wondrous fond of place. Behold four Kings in majesty revered, With hoary whiskers and a forky beard; And four fair Queens, whose hands sustain a flower 40 Th' expressive emblem of their softer And party-colour'd troops, a shining train, The skilful nymph reviews her force with care; 'Let Spades be trumps!' she said, and trumps they were. Now move to war her sable Matadores, In show like leaders of the swarthy Moors. Spadillio first, unconquerable lord! Led off two captive trumps, and swept the board. 50 As many more Manillio forced to yield, Him Basto follow'd, but his fate more hard 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 Loo, Sad chance of war! now destitute 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 consort of the crown of Spades. The Club's black tyrant first her victim died, Spite of his haughty mien and barb'rous pride: 70 What boots the regal circle on his head, His giant limbs, in state unwieldy spread; That long behind he trails his pompous robe, And of all monarchs only grasps the globe? The Baron now his Diamonds pours apace; Th' embroider'd King who shows but hal his face, And his refulgent Queen, with powers combin'd, Of broken troops an easy conquest find. Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild disorder seen, With throngs promiscuous strew the level green. Thus when dispers'd a ronted army runs, Of Asia's troops, and Afric's sable sons, 84 He takes the gift with rev'rence, and extends The little engine on his fingers' ends; Swift to the Lock a thousand sprites repair; A thousand wings, by turns, blow back the hair; And thrice they twitch'd the diamond in her ear; Thrice she look'd back, and thrice the foe drew near. 138 Just in that instant, anxious Ariel sought Resign'd to fate, and with a sigh retired. The Peer now spreads the glitt'ring forfex wide, T' inclose the Lock; now joins it, to divide. Ev'n then, before the fatal engine closed, 151 (But airy substance soon unites again). The meeting points the sacred hair dissever From the fair head, for ever, and for ever! E'er felt such rage, resentment, and despair, As thou, sad Virgin! for thy ravish'd hair. For, that sad moment, when the Sylphs withdrew, II And Ariel weeping from Belinda flew, Swift on his sooty pinions flits the And in a vapour reach'd the dismal dome. 20 Here in a grotto shelter'd close from air, And screen'd in shades from day's detested glare, She sighs for ever on her pensive bed, But diff'ring far in figure and in face. Her wrinkled form in black and white array'd! With store of prayers for mornings, nights, and noons, Her hand is fill'd; her bosom with lampoons. 30 There Affectation, with a sickly mien, Shows in her cheek the roses of eighteen, Practis'd to lisp, and hang the head aside, Faints into airs, and languishes with pride; On the rich quilt sinks with becoming woe, Wrapt in a gown for sickness and for show. The fair ones feel such maladies as these, When each new night-dress gives a new disease. A constant vapour o'er the palace flies Strange phantoms rising as the mists arise; Dreadful as hermits' dreams in haunted shades, 41 Or bright as visions of expiring maids: Now glaring fiends, and snakes on rolling spires, Pale spectres, gaping tombs, and purple fires; Now lakes of liquid gold, Elysian scenes, And crystal domes, and angels in machines. 60 Who rule the sex to fifty from fifteen: Who cause the proud their visits to delay, A nymph there is that all your power disdains, And thousands more in equal mirth maintains. But oh! if e'er thy Gnome could spoil a grace, Or raise a pimple on a beauteous face, Hear me, and touch Belinda with chagrin; On that rapacious hand for ever blaze? Sooner let earth, air, sea, to chaos fall, all!' 120 She said; then raging to Sir Plume re pairs, And bids her beau demand the precious hairs |