That long behind he trails his pompous robe!
And, of all Monarchs, only grasps the globe!

The Baron now his Diamonds pours apace.
Th' embroidered King who shows but half his face,
And his refulgent Queen, with powers combined,
Of broken troops an easy conquest find!

Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild disorder seen,
With throngs promiscuous strow the level Green.
Thus, when dispersed, a routed army runs,
Of Asia's troops, and Afric's sable sons,
With like confusion, different nations fly
In various habits, and of various dye;
The pierced battalions, disunited, fall

In heaps on heaps. One fate o'erwhelms them all!

The Knave of Diamonds now exerts his arts, And wins (O, shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts. At this, the blood the Virgin's cheek forsook, A livid paleness spreads o'er all her look. She sees; and trembles at th' approaching ill! Just in the jaws of ruin, and Codille!

And now (as oft in some distempered State), On one nice Trick depends the gen'ral fate. An Ace of Hearts steps forth. The King unseen Lurked in her Hand, and mourned his captive Queen. He springs to vengeance with an eager pace; And falls like thunder on the prostrate Ace. The Nymph, exulting, fills with shouts the sky; The walls, the woods, and long canals reply!

O, thoughtless mortals! ever blind to Fate! Too soon dejected; and too soon elate! Sudden, these honours shall be snatched away; And cursed for ever, this victorious day!

For, lo! the board with cups and spoons is crowned,
The berries crackle, and the Mill goes round.
On shining altars of Japan they raise

The silver lamp, and fiery spirits blaze!
From silver spouts the grateful liquors glide;
And China's earth receives the smoking tide.
At once, they gratify their scent and taste;
While frequent cups prolong the rich repast.

Strait, hover round the Fair her airy band. Some, as she sipped, the fuming liquor fanned; Some o'er her lap their careful plumes displayed, Trembling, and conscious of the rich brocade.

Coffee (which makes the Politician wise, And see through all things with his half-shut eyes) Sent up in vapours to the Baron's brain New stratagems, the radiant Lock to gain.

Ah! cease, rash Youth! desist, ere 'tis too late! Fear the just Gods, and think of SCYLLA's1 fate! Changed to a bird, and sent to flit in air; dearly pays for NISUS' injured hair!

But when to mischief mortals bend their mind; How soon fit instruments of ill they find!

Just then, CLARISSA drew, with tempting grace, A two-edged weapon from her shining case. So Ladies, in Romance, assist their Knight, Present the spear, and arm him for the fight. He takes the gift with reverence, and extends The little engine on his fingers' ends. This, just behind BELINDA's neck he spread, As o'er the fragrant steams she bends her head. Swift to the Lock, a thousand Sprights repair! A thousand wings, by turns, blow back the hair! And thrice they twitched the diamond in her ear; Thrice she looked back, and thrice the foe drew near! Just, in that instant, anxious ARIEL Sought The close recesses of the Virgin's thought, As, on a nosegay in her breast reclined, He watched th' ideas rising in her mind. Sudden, he viewed, in spite of all her art, An earthly Lover lurking at her heart! Amazed, confused, he found his power expired; Resigned to Fate, and with a sigh retired.

The Peer now spreads the glitt'ring forfex wide T'inclose the Lock; now joins it, to divide ! Ev'n then, before the fatal engine closed, A wretched Sylph too fondly interposed! Fate urged the shears, and cut the Sylph in twain; But airy substance soon unites again!1

1 See MILTON, Paradise Lost, Lib. VI.

The meeting points, the sacred hair dissever From the fair head, for ever, and for ever!

Then flashed the living lightnings from her eyes, And screams of horror rend th' affrighted skies! No louder shrieks by Dames, to Heaven are cast When husbands, or when monkeys, breathe their last; Or when rich china vessels, fallen from high, In glitt'ring dust and painted fragments lie!

'Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine! The victor cried, 'the glorious prize is mine! While fish, in streams, or birds delight in air, Or in a Coach and Six, the British Fair ; As long as Atalantis shall be read, Or the small pillow grace a Lady's bed; While visits shall be paid on solemn days, When numerous wax-lights in bright order blaze; While Nymphs take treats, or assignations give; So long my honour, name, and praise shall live!'

What time would spare, from steel receives its date; And monuments, like men, submit to Fate! Steel did the labour of the Gods destroy, And strike to dust th' imperial towers of Troy! Steel could the works of mortal pride confound; And hew triumphal arches to the ground!

What wonder, then, fair Nymph! thy hairs shall feel The conqu'ring force of unresisted steel!

THE RAPE OF THE LOCK.

CANTO IV.

BUT anxious cares the pensive Nymph opprest; And secret Passions laboured in her breast. Not youthful Kings in battle seized alive, Not scornful Virgins who their charms survive, Not ardent Lovers robbed of all their bliss, Not ancient Ladies when refused a kiss, Not Tyrants fierce that unrepenting die, Not CYNTHIA when her manteau 's pinned awry, E'er felt such rage, resentment, and despair, As thou, sad Virgin! for thy ravished hair!

For, that sad moment when the Sylphs withdrew, And ARIEL weeping, from BELINDA flew, UMBRIEL, a dusky melancholy Spright

As ever sullied the fair face of light,

Down to the central earth, his proper scene,
Repairs, to search the gloomy Cave of SPLEEN.