a French book call'd Le Comte de Gabalis, which both in its title and fize is fo like a Novel, that many of the Fair Sex have read it for one by miftake. According to these Gentlemen the four Elements are inhabited by Spirits, which they call Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders. The Gnomes or Dæmons of Earth delight in mischief; but the Sylphs, whose habitation is in the Air, are the best condition'd Creatures imaginable. For they fay, any mortals may enjoy the moft intimate familiarities with thefe gentle Spirits, upon a condition very easy to all true Adepts, an inviolate prefervation of Chastity. As to the following Canto's, all the paffages of them are as fabulous, as the Vifion at the beginning, or the Transformation at the end; (except the lofs of your Hair, which I always mention with reverence.) The Human perfons are as fictitious as the Airy ones; and the Character of Belinda, as it is now manag'd, refembles you in nothing but in Beauty. If this Poem had as many Graces as there are in your Perfon, or in your Mind, yet I could never hope it fhould pass thro' the world half fo Uncenfur'd as You have done. But let its fortune be what it will, mine is happy enough, to have given me this occafion of affuring you that I am, with the trueft efteem, MADAM, Your most obedient, humble Servant, A. POPE. THE RAPE of the LOC K. a Nolueram, Belinda, tuos violare capillos; CANTO I. HAT dire offence from am'rous caufes WH fprings, What mighty contests rife from trivial things, NOTES. a It appears by this Motto, that the following Poem was written or published at the Lady's requeft. But there are fome further circumftances not unworthy relating. Mr. Caryl (a Gentleman who was Secretary to Queen Mary, wife of James II. whofe fortunes he followed into France, Author of the Comedy of Sir Solomon Single, and of feveral tranflations in Dryden's Mifcellanies) originally propofed the fubject to him, in a view of putting an end, by this piece of ridicule, to a quarrel that was rifen between two noble Families, thofe of Lord Petre and of Mrs. Fermor, on the trifling occafion of his having cut off a lock of her hair. The Author fent it to the Lady, with whom he was acquainted; and fhe took it fo well as to give about copies of it. That first sketch (we learn from one of his Letters) was written in lefs than a fortnight, in 1711, in two Cantos only, and it was fo printed; first, in a Miscellany of Bern. Lintot's, without the name Slight is the subject, but not fo the praise, 5 ΙΟ Say what strange motive, Goddess! could compel A well-bred Lord t'affault a gentle Belle? O fay what ftranger cause, yet unexplor'd, Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord? In tasks fo bold, can little men engage, And in foft bofoms dwells fuch mighty Rage? Sol thro' white curtains fhot a tim'rous ray, And op'd thofe eyes that must eclipse the day: Now lap-dogs give themselves the roufing shake, IŠ And fleepless lovers, juft at twelve, awake: VARIATIONS. VER. II, 12. It was in the first editions, NOTES. of the Author. But it was received fo well, that he made it more confiderable the next year by the addition of the machinery of the Sylphs, and extended it to five Canto's. We shall give the reader the pleasure of feeing in what manner these additions were inferted, fo as to seem not to be added, but to grow out of the Poem. See Notes, Cant. I. ver. 19, etc. P. This infertion he always efteemed, and juftly, the greateft effort of his skill and art as a Poet. |