The nymph exulting fills with shouts the sky; For lo! the board with cups and fpoons is. The berries crackle, and the mill turns round; 106 On fhining altars of Japan they raise The filver lamp; the fiery spirits blaze: III From filver spouts the grateful liquors glide, VARIATIONS. VER. 105. Sudden the board, etc.] From hence, the first Edition continues to 134. P. IMITATIONS. VER. IOI. Nefcia mens hominum fati fortifque futuræ, Virg. Some o'er her lap their careful plumes difplay'd, And fee thro' all things with his half-fhut eyes) 124 But when to Mischief mortals bend their will, How foon they find fit inftruments of ill? Just then, Clariffa drew with tempting grace A two-edg'd weapon from her shining cafe: So Ladies in Romance affift their Knight, Present the spear, and arm him for the fight. 130 He takes the gift with rev'rence, and extends The little engine on his finger's ends; This just behind Belinda's neck he spread, As o'er the fragrant fteams fhe bends her head. NOTES. VER. 122. and think of Sylla's Fate'] Vide Ovid Metam. viii. P. Swift to the Lock a thousand Sprites repair, 135 A thousand wings, by turns, blow back the hair; And thrice they twitch'd the diamond in her ear; Thrice fhe look'd back, and thrice the foe drew near. Juft in that inftant, anxious Ariel fought The Peer now spreads the glitt'ring Forfex wide, VARIATIONS. VER. 134. In the first edition it was thus,. All that is between was added afterwards. P. 150 Fate urg'd the sheers, and cut the Sylph in twain, (But airy substance foon unites again) The meeting points the facred hair diffever 154 eyes, Then flash'd the living light'ning from her And screams of horror rend th' affrighted skies. Not louder fhrieks to pitying heav'n are cast, When husbands, or when lapdogs breathe their last ; Or when rich China veffels fall'n from high, In glitt'ring duft, and painted fragments lie! 160 Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine, (The Victor cry'd) the glorious Prize is mine! While fish in streams, or birds delight in air, Or in a coach and fix the British Fair, As long as Atalantis fhall be read, Or the small pillow grace a Lady's bed, NOTES. 165 VER. 152. But airy fubftance] See Milton, lib. vi. of Satan cut afunder by the Angel Michael. P. VER. 165. Atalantis] A famous book written about that time by a woman: full of Court, and Party-fcandal: and in a loose effeminacy of ftyle and f ntiment, which well fuited the debauched taste of the better vulgar. VER. 163, 170. IMITATIONS. Dum juga montis aper, fluvios dum pifcis amabit, While visits shall be paid on folemn days, And monuments like men fubmit to fate! The conqu'ring force of unrefifted steel? IMITATIONS. VER. 177. Ille quoque everfus mons eft, etc. Quid faciant crines, cum ferro talia cedant? Catull, de com. Berenices. |