Where wigs with wigs, with fword-knots fwordknots 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 cryftal 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 disclose is all thy guardian can :
Beware of all, but moft beware of Man!
He faid; when Shock, who thought she slept
Leap'd up, and wak'd his miftrefs with his tongue. 'Twas then Belinda, if report fay true,
Thy eyes firft open'd on a Billet-doux ;
Wounds, Charms, and Ardors, were no fooner read, But all the Vifion vanish'd from thy head.
VER: 108. In the clear Mirror] The Language of the Platonifts, the writers of the intelligible world of Spirits, etc. P.
Fam clypeus clypeis, umbone repellitur umbo,
Enfe minax enfis, pede pes et cufpide cufpis, etc. Stat.
And now, unveil'd, the Toilet ftands difplay'd, Each filver Vafe in myftic 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 glass appears,
To that the bends, to that her eyes fhe rears;
VER. 121. And now, unveil'd, etc.] The tranflation of these verses, containing the defcription of the toilette, by our Author's friend Dr. Parnelle, deserve for their humour, to be here inferted. P.
Et nunc dilectum fpeculum, pro more retectum,
Emicat in menfa, quæ fplendet pyxide denfa :
Tum primum lympha, fe purgat candida Nympha,
Jamque fine menda, cœleftis imago videnda,
Nuda caput, bellos retinet, regit, implet ocellos.
Hæc ftupet explorans, ceu cultûs numen adorans.
Inferior claram Pythoniffa apparet ad aram,
Fertque tibi caute, dicatque Superbia! laute,
Dona venufta; oris, quæ cunctis, plena laboris,
Excerpta explorat, dominamque deamque decorat.
Pyxide devota, fe pandit hic India tota,
Et tota ex ifta tranfpirat Arabia cista;
Testudo 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 æris longo ordine pendens.
Pulvis fuavis odore, et epiftola fuavis amore.
Induit arma ergo Veneris pulcherrima 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, Nymphæ intentique faluti,
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.
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 fhe nicely culls with curious toil,
And decks the Goddefs with the glitt'ring spoil.
This cafket India's glowing gems unlocks,
And all Arabia breathes from yonder box.
The Tortoife here and Elephant unite,
Transform'd 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 rifes 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, 145
These fet the head, and thofe divide the hair,
Some fold the fleeve, whilft others plait the gown;
And Betty's prais'd for labours not her own.
VER. 145. The bufy Sylphs, etc.] Antient Traditions of the Rabbi's relate, that feveral of the fallen Angels became amorous of Women, and particularly 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, Berefhi Rabbi in Genef. vi. 2.
OT with more glories, in th' etherial plain,
N The Sun firft 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-drest Youths around her shone,
But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone.
On her white breast a sparkling Crofs fhe wore,
Which Jews might kifs, 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 strike,
And, like the fun, they fhine 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.
VER. 4. Launch'd on the bofom] From hence the poem continues, in the first Edition, to v. 46.
The reft the winds difpers'd in empty air,
all after, to the end of this Canto, being additional. P.
This Nymph, to the destruction of mankind, Nourish'd two Locks, which graceful hung behind In equal curls, and well confpir'd to deck With fhining ringlets the smooth iv'ry neck. Love in these labyrinths his flaves detains, And mighty hearts are held in slender chains. With hairy fpringes we the birds betray, Slight lines of hair furprize the finny prey, Fair treffes man's imperial race infnare,
And beauty draws us with a fingle hair.
Th' advent'rous Baron the bright locks admir'd;
He faw, he wifh'd, and to the prize aspir'd.
Refolv'd to win, he meditates the way,
By force to ravish, or by fraud betray;
For when fuccefs a Lover's toil attends,
Few afk, if fraud or force attain'd his ends.
For this, ere Phoebus rofe, he had implor'd
Propitious heav'n, and ev'ry pow'r ador'd,
But chiefly Love-to Love an Altar built,
Of twelve vaft French Romances, neatly gilt.
There lay three garters, half a pair of gloves;
And all the trophies of his former loves;
With tender Billet-doux he lights the pyre,
And breathes three am'rous fighs to raise the fire.
Then proftrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes
Soon to obtain, and long poffefs the prize:
VER. 25. With hairy Springes] In allufion to Ana
VER. 28. with a fingle hair.] In allufion to those lines of Hudibras, applied to the fame purpose,
And tho' it be a two feet Trout,
'Tis with a fingle hair pull'd out.
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