THE

RAPE of the LOCK.

CANTO III.

Lofe 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 statesmen oft the fall foredoom 5
Of foreign Tyrants, and of Nymphs at home;
Here thou, great ANNA! whom three realms obey,
Doft fometimes counsel take---and sometimes 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;

VER. 11, 12.

VARIATIONS.

10

VER. 1. Clofe by thofe meads,] Ths firft Edition continues from this line to 24. of this Canto. P. Originally in the firft Edition, In various talk the chearful hours they paft, Of, who was bit, or who capotted laft. P.

One speaks the glory of the British Queen,
And one describes a charming Indian screen ;
A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes; 15
At ev'ry word a reputation `dies.

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

20

Mean while, declining from the noon of day, The fun obliquely fhoots his burning ray; The hungry Judges foon the sentence fign, And wretches hang that Jury-men may dine The merchant from th' Exchange returns in peace, And the long labours of the Toilet cease. Belinda now, whom thirst of fame invites,

;

25

Burns to encounter two adven'trous Knights,
At Ombre fingly to decide their doom;
And fwells her breaft with conquefts yet to come.
Strait 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:

VARIATIONS.

30

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

First Ariel perch'd upon a Matadore,

Then each according to the rank they bore;
For Sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race, 35
Are, as when women, wondrous fond of place.
Behold, four Kings in majesty rever'd,

With hoary whiskers and a forky beard;

And four fair Queens whofe hands fuftain a flow'r,
Th' expreffive emblem of their softer pow'r; 40
Four knaves in garbs fuccinct, a trufty band;
Caps on their heads, and halberts in their hand;
And particolour'd troops, a fhining train,
Draw forth to combat on the velvet plain.

The skilful Nymph reviews her force with care: Let Spades be trumps! fhe faid, and trumps they

were.

Now move to war her fable Matadores, In fhow like leaders of the swarthy Moors.

Spadillio first, unconquerable Lord!

46

Led off two captive trumps, and fwept the board.

As many more Manillio forc'd to yield,

And march'd a victor from the verdant field.

NOTES.

51

VER. 47. Now move to war, etc.] The whole idea of this defcription of a game at Ombre, is taken from Vida's defcription of a game at Chefs, in his poem intit. Scacchia Ludus.

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, 55
The hoary Majefty of Spades appears,
Puts forth one manly leg, to fight reveal'd,
The reft, his many-colour'd robe conceal'd.
The rebel Knave, who dares his prince engage,
Proves the juft victim of his royal rage.
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 deftitute of aid,
Falls undiftinguifh'd by the victor Spade!

60

65

Thus far both armies to Belinda yield; Now to the Baron fate inclines the field. His warlike Amazon her hoft invades, Th' imperial confort of the crown of Spades. The Club's black Tyrant firft her victim dy'd, Spite of his haughty mien, and barb'rous pride: What boots the regal circle on his head, His giant limbs, in ftate unwieldy spread; That long behind he trails his pompous robe, And, of all monarchs only, grafps the globe? The Baron now his Diamonds pours apace; 75 Th'embroider'd King who fhews but half his face,

71

green.

81

And his refulgent Queen, with pow'rs combin'd
Of broken troops an eafy conqueft find.
Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild disorder seen,
With throngs promifcuous ftrow the level
Thus when difpers'd a routed army runs,
Af Afia's troops, and Afric's fable fons,
With like confufion different nations fly,
Of various habit, and of various dye,
The pierc'd battalions dif-united fall,

85

In heaps on heaps; one fate o'erwhelms them all. The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, And wins (oh fhameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts.

90

At this, the blood the virgin's cheek forfook,
A livid paleness spreads o'er all her look;
She fees, and trembles at th' approaching ill,
Juft in the jaws of ruin, and Codille.
And now, (as oft in fome diftemper'd State)
On one nice Trick depends the gen'ral fate. 94
An Ace of Hearts steps forth: The King unseen
Lurk'd in her hand, and mourn'd his captiveQueen:
He springs to vengeance with an eager pace,
And falls like thunder on the proftrate Ace.