When Florio fpeaks, what virgin could withstand,
If gentle Damon did not squeeze her hand?
With varying vanities, from ev'ry part,

They shift the moving Toyfhop of their heart;

100

Where wigs with wigs, with fword-knots fword-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,
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 faw, alas! fome dread event impend,
Ere to the main this morning fun defcend,
But heav'n reveals not what, or how, or where:
Warn'd by the Sylph, oh pious maid, beware!
This to disclofe is all thy guardian can :
Beware of all, but most beware of Man!

105

110

He

NOTES.

VER. 108. In the clear mirror] The language of the Platonists, the writers of the intelligible world of Spirits, &c. POPE.

VER. 113. This to difclofe, &c.] There is much pleasantry in the conduct of this fcene. The Roficrufian Doctrine was delivered only to Adepts, with the utmost caution, and under the most folemn injunctions of fecrecy. It is here communicated to a Woman,

IMITATIONS.

VER. TOI.

Jam clypeus clypeis, umbone repellitur umbo,

Enfe minax enfis, pede pes, et cufpide cuspis," &c. STAŤ.

WARBURTON.

He faid; when Shock, who thought she slept too

long,

115

Leap'd up, and wak'd his mistress with his tongue. 'Twas then, Belinda, if report fay true,

Thy eyes firft open'd on a Billet-doux ;
Wounds, Charms, and Ardours, were no fooner read,
But all the Vifion vanifh'd from thy head.

And now, unveil'd, the Toilet ftands difplay'd,
Each filver Vafe in mystic order laid.

120

NOTES.

Firft,

Woman, and in that way of conveyance, which a Woman most delights to make the fubject of her conversation; that is to fay, her Dreams. WARBURTON.

VER. 121. And now, unveild, &c.] The tranflation of these verfes, containing the defcription of the toilette, by our Author's friend Dr. Parnell, deferve, for their humour, to be here inferted.

"Et nunc dilectum fpeculum, pro more retectum,
Emicat in menfa, quæ fplendet pyxide denfa:
Tum primum lympha se purgat candida Nympha,
Jamque fine menda, cœleftis imago videnda,
Nuda caput, bellos retinet, regit, implet ocellos,
Hæc ftupet implorans, ceu cultûs numen adorans.
Inferior claram Pythoniffa apparet ad aram,
Fertque tibi caute, dicatque Superbia ! laute,
Dona venusta; oris, quæ cunctis, plena laboris,
Excerpta explorat, dominamque deamque decorat.
Pyxide devota, fe pandit hic India tota,

Et tota ex ifta tranfpirat Arabia ciita;

Teftudo hic flectit dum fe mea Lesbia pectit ;
Atque elephas lente, te pectit Lesbia dente;
Hunc maculis noris, nivei jacet ille coloris.
Hic jacet et munde, mundus muliebris abunde;
Spinula refplendens aeris longo ordine pendens,
Pulvis fuavis odore, et epiftola fuavis amore,

РОРБ.

Induit

First, rob'd in white, the Nymph intent adores,
With head uncover'd, the Cofmetic pow'rs.
A heav'nly Image in the glass appears,

To that the bends, to that her eyes fhe rears;
Th' inferior Priestess, at her altar's fide,
Trembling begins the facred rites of Pride.
Unnumber'd treasures ope at once, and here
The various off'rings of the world appear;
From each she nicely culls with curious toil,
And decks the Goddess with the glitt'ring spoil.

NOTES.

Induit arma ergo Veneris plucherrima virgo;
Pulchrior in præfens tempus de tempore crefcens,
Jam reparat rifus, jam furgit gratia vifus,
Jam promit cultu, mirac'la latentia vultu ;
Pigmina jam mifcet, quo plus fua Purpura glifcet,
Et geminans bellis fplendet mage fulgor ocellis.
Stant Lemures muti, Nympha intentique saluti,
Hic figit Zonam, capiti locat ille Coronam,
Hæc manicis formam, plicis dat et altera normam,
Et tibi, vel Betty tibi vel nitidiffima Letty!
Gloria factorum temere conceditur horum."

125

130

This

WARBURTON.

Warton obferves, that "fome of thefe Latin lines are not claffical;" perhaps this was intended, as being more like the Monkifh., The accents of " Sině, Arăbia," &c. are wrong.

VER. 122. Each filver Vafe] Parnell accidentally hearing Pope repeat this defcription of the Toilette, privately turned them into these Monkish Latin verses, and Pope, to whom he immediately communicated them, was aftonished at the resemblance, till Parnell undeceived him. Mr. Harte told me, that Dryden had been imposed on by a fimilar little ftratagem. One of his friends tranflated into Latin verfe, printed, and pafted on the bottom of an old hat-box, that celebrated paffage,

"To die is landing on fome filent shore," &c. and that Dryden, on opening the box, was alarmed and amazed. WARTON

This casket India's glowing gems unlocks,

And all Arabia breathes from yonder box.

The tortoise here and elephant unite,

135

140

Transform'd to combs, the fpeckled, and the white,
Here files of pins extend their fhining rows,
Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux.
Now awful beauty puts on all its arms;
The fair each moment rises in her charms,
Repairs her fmiles, 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 bufy Sylphs furround their darling care,
These fet the head, and those divide the hair,
Some fold the fleeve, whilst others plait the gown;
And Betty's prais'd for labours not her own.

NOTES.

145

VER. 131. From each fhe] Evidently from Addison's Spectator, No. 69; “The single dress of a woman of quality is often the product of an hundred climates. The muff and the fan come together from the different ends of the earth. The scarf is fent from the Torrid Zone, and the tippet from beneath the Pole. The brocade petticoat arifes out of the mines of Peru, and the diamond necklace out of the bowels of Indoftan." WARTON.

VER. 145. The bufy Sylphs, &c.] Ancient Traditions of the Rabbi's relate, that several of the fallen Angels became amorous of Women, and particularize fome; among the reft Afael, who lay with Naamah, the wife of Noah, or of Ham; and who continuing impenitent, ftill prefides over the Women's Toilets. Bereshi Rabbi in Genef. vi. 2.

POPE.

THE RAPE OF THE LOCK,

CANTO II.

NOT with more glories, in th' ethereal plain,
The Sun first rifes o'er the purpled main,

Than, iffuing forth, the rival of his beams

Launch'd on the bofom of the filver Thames.

Fair Nymphs, and well-dreft Youths around her fhone, But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone.

6

On her white breast a sparkling Crofs fhe 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:
Favours to none, to all she smiles extends;
Oft fhe rejects, but never once offends.
Bright as the fun, her eyes the gazers ftrike,
And like the fun, they fhine on all alike,
Yet graceful eafe, and sweetness void of pride,
Might hide her faults, if Belles had faults to hide :
If to her fhare fome female errors fall,

Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all,

VARIATIONS,

10

15

This

VER. 4. Launch'd on the bofom, &c.] From hence the poem continues, in the first Edition, to ver. 46.

"The reft the winds difpers'd in empty air;" all after, to the end of this Canto, being additional.