то

MRS. ARABELLA FERMO R.

MADAM,

T will be in vain to deny that I have fome regard for this piece, fince I dedicate it to You. Yet you may bear me witnefs, it was intended only to divert a few young Ladies, who have good fenfe and good humour enough to laugh not only at their fex's little unguarded follies, but at their own. But as it was communicated with the air of a fecret, it foon found its way into the world. An imperfect copy having been offered to a Bookfeller, you had the good-nature for my fake to consent to the publication of one more correct: This I was forced to, before I had executed half my design, for the Machinery was entirely wanting to complete it.

The Machinery, Madam, is a term invented by the Critics, to fignify that part which the Deities, Angels, or Dæmons, are made to act in a Poem: For the ancient Poets are in one respect like many modern Ladies : let an action be never so trivial in itself, they always make it appear of the utmost importance. These Machines I determined to raise on a very new and odd foundation, the Roficrufian doctrine of Spirits.

I know how disagreeable it is to make use of hard words before a Lady; but it is fo much the concern of a Poet to have his works understood, and particularly by your Sex, that you must give me leave to explain two or three difficult terms.

The Roficrufians are a people I must bring you acquainted with. The best account I know of them is in

a French

a French book called 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 mistake. 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 mifchief; but the Sylphs, whofe habitation is in the Air, are the best-conditioned creatures imaginable. For they say, any mortals may enjoy the most intimate familiarities with these gentle Spirits, upon a condition very easy to all true Adepts, an inviolate prefervation of Chastity.

As to the following Cantos, all the paffages of them are as fabulous as the Vision 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 managed, 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 through the world half fo uncenfured 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 truest esteem,

MADAM,

Your moft obedient, humble fervant,

A. POPE.

THE

RAPE OF THE LOCK.

CANTO I.

HAT dire offence from amorous causes fprings,

WE

What mighty contefts rife from trivial things,

I fing-this verfe to Caryl, Mufe! is due:
This, ev'n Belinda may vouchsafe to view:
Slight is the fubject, but not so the praise,
If She infpire, and He approve my lays.

Say what ftrange motive, Goddefs! 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 so bold, can little men engage,
And in foft bofoms dwells fuch mighty rage?
Sol through white curtains shot a timorous ray,
And ope'd those eyes that must eclipse the day :

VARIATIONS.

Ver. 11, 12. It was in the first editions,
And dwells fuch rage in fofteft bofoms then,
And lodge fuch daring fouls in little men ?

Ver.

13, &c. Stood thus in the first edition,

$

Now

Sol through white curtains did his beams difplay,
And ope'd thofe eyes which brighter fhone than they ;
Shock just had given himself the rouzing shake,
And Nymphs prepar'd their chocolate to take;
Thrice the wrought flipper knock'd against the ground,
And striking watches the tenth hour refound.

Now lap-dogs give themselves the rouzing shake,
And fleepless lovers, just at twelve, awake:

Thrice rung the bell, the flipper knock'd the ground,
And the prefs'd watch return'd a filver found.
Belinda ftill her downy pillow preft,

Her guardian Sylph prolong'd the balmy rest
'Twas He had fummon'd to her filent bed
The morning dream that hover'd o'er her head.
A Youth more glittering than a birth-night beau,
(That ev'n in flumber caus'd her cheek to glow)
Seem'd to her ear his winning lips to lay,
And thus in whifpers faid, or feem'd to say:
Fairest of mortals, thou distinguish'd care
Of thousand bright Inhabitants of Air!
If e'er one vifion touch thy infant thought,

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Of all the Nurfe and all the Priest have taught;

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Of airy Elves by moonlight shadows feen,

The filver token, and the circled green,

Or virgins vifited by Angel-powers,

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With golden crowns and wreaths of heavenly flowers;
Hear, and believe! thy own importance know,
Nor bound thy narrow views to things below.
Some fecret truths, from learned pride conceal'd,
To Maids alone and Children are reveal'd:

What though no credit doubting Wits may give? -
The Fair and Innocent fhall ftill believe.

Know then, unnumber'd Spirits round thee fly,
The light Militia of the lower sky:

VARIATION.

Thefe,

Ver. 19. Belinda ftill, &c.] All the verfes from hence

to the end of this Canto were added afterwards..

Thefe, though unfeen, are ever on the wing,

Hang o'er the Box, and hover round the Ring.
Think what an equipage thou hast in air,
And view with scorn two Pages, and a Chair.
As now your own, our beings were of old,
And once inclos'd in Woman's beauteous mould;
Thence, by a foft tranfition, we repair

From earthly vehicles to thefe of air.

Think not, when Woman's tranfient breath is fled,
That all her vanities at once a

are dead;

Succeeding vanities fhe ftill regards,

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And though the plays no more, o'erlooks the cards.'./
Her joy in gilded Chariots, when alive,

And love of Ombre, after death survive.
For when the Fair in all their pride expire,
To their firft Elements their Souls retire:
The fprites of fiery Termagants in Flame
Mount up, and take a Salamander's name.
Soft yielding minds to Water glide away,
And fip, with nymphs, their elemental tea.
The graver Prude finks downward to a Gnome,
In fearch of mifchief ftill on Earth to roam.
The light Coquettes in Sylphs aloft repair,
And sport and flutter in the fields of Air.

Know farther yet; whoever fair and chafte
Rejects mankind, is by fome Sylph embrac❜d:
For, fpirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease,
Affume what fexes and what shapes they please."
What guards the purity of melting Maids,
In courtly balls, and midnight masquerades,

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Safe