It will be in vain to deny that I have some regard for this piece, since I dedicate it to You. Yet you may bear me witness, it was intended only to divert a few young Ladies, who have good sense and good humour enough to laugh not only at their s.e.x"s little unguarded follies, but at their own. But as it was communicated with the air of a Secret, it soon found its way into the world. An imperfect copy having been offer"d to a Bookseller, you had the good-nature for my sake to consent to the publication of one more correct: This I was forc"d to, before I had executed half my design, for the Machinery was entirely wanting to compleat it.
The Machinery, Madam, is a term invented by the Critics, to signify that part which the Deities, Angels, or Daemons 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 Rosicrucian doctrine of Spirits.
I know how disagreeable it is to make use of hard words before a Lady; but"t is so much the concern of a Poet to have his works understood, and particularly by your s.e.x, that you must give me leave to explain two or three difficult terms.
The Rosicrucians are a people I must bring you acquainted with. The best account I know of them is in a French book call"d "Le Comte de Gabalis", which both in its t.i.tle and size is so like a Novel, that many of the Fair s.e.x 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 Daemons of Earth delight in mischief; but the Sylphs whose habitation is in the Air, are the best-condition"d 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 preservation of Chast.i.ty.
As to the following Canto"s, all the pa.s.sages of them are as fabulous, as the Vision at the beginning, or the Transformation at the end; (except the loss of your Hair, which I always mention with reverence).
The Human persons are as fict.i.tious as the airy ones; and the character of Belinda, as it is now manag"d, resembles you in nothing but in Beauty.
If this Poem had as many Graces as there are in your Person, or in your Mind, yet I could never hope it should pa.s.s thro" the world half so Uncensur"d as You have done. But let its fortune be what it will, mine is happy enough, to have given me this occasion of a.s.suring you that I am, with the truest esteem, Madam,
Your most obedient, Humble Servant,
A. Pope
CANTO I
What dire offence from am"rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things, I sing--This verse to CARYL, Muse! is due: This, ev"n Belinda may vouchsafe to view: Slight is the subject, but not so the praise, 5 If She inspire, and He approve my lays.
Say what strange motive, G.o.ddess! could compel A well-bred Lord t" a.s.sault a gentle Belle?
O say what stranger cause, yet unexplor"d, Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord? 10 In tasks so bold, can little men engage, And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty Rage?
Sol thro" white curtains shot a tim"rous ray, And oped those eyes that must eclipse the day: Now lap-dogs give themselves the rousing shake, 15 And sleepless lovers, just at twelve, awake: Thrice rung the bell, the slipper knock"d the ground, And the press"d watch return"d a silver sound.
Belinda still her downy pillow prest, Her guardian SYLPH prolong"d the balmy rest: 20 "Twas He had summon"d to her silent bed The morning-dream that hover"d o"er her head; A Youth more glitt"ring than a Birth-night Beau, (That ev"n in slumber caus"d her cheek to glow) Seem"d to her ear his winning lips to lay, 25 And thus in whispers said, or seem"d to say.
Fairest of mortals, thou distinguish"d care Of thousand bright Inhabitants of Air!
If e"er one vision touch."d thy infant thought, Of all the Nurse and all the Priest have taught; 30 Of airy Elves by moonlight shadows seen, The silver token, and the circled green, Or virgins visited by Angel-pow"rs, With golden crowns and wreaths of heav"nly flow"rs; Hear and believe! thy own importance know, 35 Nor bound thy narrow views to things below.
Some secret truths, from learned pride conceal"d, To Maids alone and Children are reveal"d: What tho" no credit doubting Wits may give?
The Fair and Innocent shall still believe. 40 Know, then, unnumber"d Spirits round thee fly, The light Militia of the lower sky: These, tho" unseen, are ever on the wing, Hang o"er the Box, and hover round the Ring.
Think what an equipage thou hast in Air, 45 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 soft transition, we repair From earthly Vehicles to these of air. 50 Think not, when Woman"s transient breath is fled That all her vanities at once are dead; Succeeding vanities she still regards, And tho" she plays no more, o"erlooks the cards.
Her joy in gilded Chariots, when alive, 55 And love of Ombre, after death survive.
For when the Fair in all their pride expire, To their first Elements their Souls retire: The Sprites of fiery Termagants in Flame Mount up, and take a Salamander"s name. 60 Soft yielding minds to Water glide away, And sip, with Nymphs, their elemental Tea.
The graver Prude sinks downward to a Gnome, In search of mischief still on Earth to roam.
The light Coquettes in Sylphs aloft repair, 65 And sport and flutter in the fields of Air.
"Know further yet; whoever fair and chaste Rejects mankind, is by some Sylph embrac"d: For Spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease a.s.sume what s.e.xes and what shapes they please. 70 What guards the purity of melting Maids, In courtly b.a.l.l.s, and midnight masquerades, Safe from the treach"rous friend, the daring spark, The glance by day, the whisper in the dark, When kind occasion prompts their warm desires, 75 When music softens, and when dancing fires?
"Tis but their Sylph, the wise Celestials know, Tho" Honour is the word with Men below.
Some nymphs there are, too conscious of their face, For life predestin"d to the Gnomes" embrace. 80 These swell their prospects and exalt their pride, When offers are disdain"d, and love deny"d: Then gay Ideas crowd the vacant brain, While Peers, and Dukes, and all their sweeping train, And Garters, Stars, and Coronets appear, 85 And in soft sounds, Your Grace salutes their ear.
"T is these that early taint the female soul, Instruct the eyes of young Coquettes to roll, Teach Infant-cheeks a bidden blush to know, And little hearts to flutter at a Beau. 90
Oft, when the world imagine women stray, The Sylphs thro" mystic mazes guide their way, Thro" all the giddy circle they pursue, And old impertinence expel by new.
What tender maid but must a victim fall 95 To one man"s treat, but for another"s ball?
When Florio speaks what virgin could withstand, If gentle Damon did not squeeze her hand?
With varying vanities, from ev"ry part, They shift the moving Toyshop of their heart; 100 Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive, Beaux banish beaux, and coaches coaches drive.
This erring mortals Levity may call; Oh blind to truth! the Sylphs contrive it all.
Of these am I, who thy protection claim, 105 A watchful sprite, and Ariel is my name.
Late, as I rang"d the crystal wilds of air, In the clear Mirror of thy ruling Star I saw, alas! some dread event impend, Ere to the main this morning sun descend, 110 But heav"n reveals not what, or how, or where: Warn"d by the Sylph, oh pious maid, beware!
This to disclose is all thy guardian can: Beware of all, but most beware of Man!"
He said; when Shock, who thought she slept too long, 115 Leap"d up, and wak"d his mistress with his tongue.
"T was then, Belinda, if report say true, Thy eyes first open"d on a Billet-doux; Wounds, Charms, and Ardors were no sooner read, But all the Vision vanish"d from thy head. 120
And now, unveil"d, the Toilet stands display"d, Each silver Vase in mystic order laid.
First, rob"d in white, the Nymph intent adores, With head uncover"d, the Cosmetic pow"rs.
A heav"nly image in the gla.s.s appears, 125 To that she bends, to that her eyes she rears; Th" inferior Priestess, at her altar"s side, Trembling begins the sacred rites of Pride.
Unnumber"d treasures ope at once, and here The various off"rings of the world appear; 130 From each she nicely culls with curious toil, And decks the G.o.ddess with the glitt"ring spoil.
This casket India"s glowing gems unlocks, And all Arabia breathes from yonder box.
The Tortoise here and Elephant unite, 135 Transformed to combs, the speckled, and the white.
Here files of pins extend their shining rows, Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux.
Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms; The fair each moment rises in her charms, 140 Repairs her smiles, awakens ev"ry grace, And calls forth all the wonders of her face; Sees by degrees a purer blush arise, And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes.
The busy Sylphs surround their darling care, 145 These set the head, and those divide the hair, Some fold the sleeve, whilst others plait the gown: And Betty"s prais"d for labours not her own.
CANTO II
Not with more glories, in th" etherial plain, The Sun first rises o"er the purpled main, Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams Launch"d on the bosom of the silver Thames.
Fair Nymphs, and well-drest Youths around her shone. 5 But ev"ry eye was fix"d on her alone.
On her white breast a sparkling Cross she wore, Which Jews might kiss, and Infidels adore.
Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose, Quick as her eyes, and as unfix"d as those: 10 Favours to none, to all she smiles extends; Oft she rejects, but never once offends.
Bright as the sun, her eyes the gazers strike, And, like the sun, they shine on all alike.
Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride, 15 Might hide her faults, if Belles had faults to hide: If to her share some female errors fall, Look on her face, and you"ll forget "em all.
This Nymph, to the destruction of mankind, Nourish"d two Locks, which graceful hung behind 20 In equal curls, and well conspir"d to deck With shining ringlets the smooth iv"ry neck.
Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains, And mighty hearts are held in slender chains.
With hairy springes we the birds betray, 25 Slight lines of hair surprise the finny prey, Fair tresses man"s imperial race ensnare, And beauty draws us with a single hair.
Th" advent"rous Baron the bright locks admir"d; He saw, he wish"d, and to the prize aspir"d. 30 Resolv"d to win, he meditates the way, By force to ravish, or by fraud betray; For when success a Lover"s toil attends, Few ask, if fraud or force attain"d his ends.
For this, ere Phoebus rose, he had implor"d 35 Propitious heav"n, and ev"ry pow"r ador"d, But chiefly Love--to Love an Altar built, Of twelve vast French Romances, neatly gilt.
There lay three garters, half a pair of gloves; And all the trophies of his former loves; 40 With tender Billet-doux he lights the pyre, And breathes three am"rous sighs to raise the fire.
Then prostrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes Soon to obtain, and long possess the prize: The pow"rs gave ear, and granted half his pray"r, 45 The rest, the winds dispers"d in empty air.
But now secure the painted vessel glides, The sun-beams trembling on the floating tides: While melting music steals upon the sky, And soften"d sounds along the waters die; 50 Smooth flow the waves, the Zephyrs gently play, Belinda smil"d, and all the world was gay.
All but the Sylph--with careful thoughts opprest, Th" impending woe sat heavy on his breast.
He summons strait his Denizens of air; 55 The lucid squadrons round the sails repair: Soft o"er the shrouds aerial whispers breathe, That seem"d but Zephyrs to the train beneath.