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like a Novel, that many of the Fair Sex 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 Dæmons of Earth delight in mifchief; but the Sylphs, whofe habitation is in the Air, are the best condition'd creatures imaginable. For they say, any mortals may enjoy the most intimate familiarities with thefe gentle Spirits, upon a condition very easy to all true Adepts, an inviolate prefervation of Chastity.

As to the following Canto's, all the paffages of them are as fabulous, as the Vifion at the beginning, or the Transformation at the end; (except the lofs of your Hair, which I always mention with reverence.) The Human perfons are as fictitious 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 Perfon, or in your mind, yet I could never hope it should pass thro the world half fo uncenfur'd as You have done. But let its fortune be what it will, mine is happy enough, to have given me this occafion of affuring you that I am, with the truest esteem,

MADAM,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

A. PO PE.

Plate III

Vol. I. facing p.137.

This Lock the Muse shall consecrate to Fame, And midst the Stars inscribe Belinda's name. Rape of the Lock

THE

RAPE of the LOCK.

* Nolueram, Belinda, tuos violare capillos; Sed juvat hoc precibus me tribuiffe tuis. MART.

CANTO I.

WHAT dire offence from am'rous causes

fprings,

What mighty contests rife from trivial things,
I fing-This verfe to CARYL, Mufe! is due:
This ev'n Belinda may vouchsafe to view :

a It appears by this Motto, that the following Poem was written or published at the Lady's requeft. But there are fome further circumstances not unworthy relating. Mr. Caryl (a Gentleman who was Secretary to Queen Mary, wife of James II. whofe fortunes he followed into France, Author of the Comedy of Sir Solomon Single, and of feveral translations in Dryden's Miscellanies) originally proposed the subject to him in a view of putting an end, by this piece of ridicule, to a quarrel that was rifen between two noble Families, those of Lord Petre and of Mrs, Fermor, on the trifling occasion of his having cut off a lock of her hair. The Author fent it to the Lady, with whom he was acquainted; and fhe took it fo well as to give about copies of it. That first sketch, (we learn from one of his Letters) was written in less than a fortnight, in 1711. in two Canto's only, and it was fo printed; first, in a Mifcellany of Bern.

Slight is the fubject, but not fo the praise,
If She infpire, and He approve my lays.

5 #

Say what ftrange motive, Goddess! could compel A well-bred Lord t' affault a gentle Belle ? O fay what ftranger caufe, yet unexplor'd, Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord ? In tafks fo bold, can little men engage, And in foft bofoms dwells fuch mighty Rage?

Sol thro' white curtains fhot a tim'rous ray, And ope'd thofe eyes that muft eclipse the day :

ΤΟ

Lintot's, without the name of the Author. But it was received fo well, that he made it more confiderable the next year by the addition of the machinery of the Sylphs, and extended it to five Canto's. We fhall give the reader the pleasure of feeing in what manner these additions were inferted, fo as to feem not to be added, but to grow out of the Poem. See Notes, Cant I. 19, etc. P.

This infertion he always efteemed, and juftly, the greatest effort of his skill and art as a Poet.

VARIATIONS.

VER. II, 12. It was in the first Editions,
And dwells fuch rage in softeft bofoms then,
And lodge fuch daring Souls in little Men?
VER. 13, etc. Stood thus in the first Edition,

Sol thro' white curtains did his beams difplay,
And ope'd thofe eyes which brighter fhone than they :
Shock just had giv'n himself the rousing shake,
And Nymphs prepar'd their Chocolate to take:
Thrice the wrought flipper knock'd against the ground,
And ftriking watches the tenth hour refound.,

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