A brighter wash; to curl their waving hairs, 100 This day, black Omens threat the brightest Fair That e'er deserv❜d a watchful spirit's care; Some dire difafter, or by force, or flight; 105 But what, or where, the fates have wrapt in night. Or whether Heav'n has doom'd that Shock must fall. Hafte then, ye fpirits! to your charge repair: NOTES. 115 To VER. 105. Whether the nymph, &c.] The difafter, which makes the fubject of this poem, being a trifle, taken seriously; it naturally led the Poet into this fine fatire on the female estimate of human mifchances. WARBURTON. VER. 112. Zephyretta] The names of his Sylphs are happily chofen. Caftlevetro mentions an odd circumftance, that the names which Boiardo gave to his heroes in his Orlando Inamorato, were only the names of fome of the principal tenants and peasants on his eftate of Scandiano. WARTON. VER. 116 Ariel himself, &c.] Ruff head very justly observes, that Ariel should have been affigned fome more important employment. To fifty chofen Sylphs, of fpecial note, 121 We trust th' important charge, the Petticoat: NOTES. 126 Gums VER. 118. the Petticoat :] It is impoffible here not to recollect that matchless piece of raillery and exquifite humour, of Addison, in the 127th Spectator, on this important part of female dress. WARTON. VER. 125. Shall feel fharp Vengeance] Our Poet ftill rifes in the delicacy of his fatire, where he employs, with the utmost judg ment and elegance, all the implements and furniture of the toilette, as inftruments of punishment to thofe fpirits, who shall be careless of their charge; of punishment, fuch as Sylphs alone could undergo. WARTON. This is indeed one of the most happy specimens of Pope's poetical fancy, and invention. IMITATIONS. VER. 119. clypei dominus feptemplicis Ajax. OVID. WARBURTON. VER. 121. about the filver bound,] In allufion to the shield of Achilles : "Thus the broad fhield complete the Artist crown'd, In living Silver feem'd the waves to roll, And beat the Buckler's verge, and bound the whole. VOL. I. Y WARBURTON, Gums and Pomatums shall his flight restrain, While clog'd he beats his filken wings in vain; 130 Shrink his thin effence like a rivel'd flow'r: He spoke; the spirits from the fails descend; With beating hearts the dire event they wait, 135 140 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. CLOSE CANTO III. LOSE by thofe meads, for ever crown'd with Where Thames with pride furveys his rifing tow'rs, Of foreign Tyrants, and of Nymphs at home; 5 10 15 Snuff, VARIATIONS. VER. 1. Clofe by thofe meads,] The first Edition continues from this line to ver. 24. of this Canto. РОРЕ. VER. 11, 12. Originally in the first Edition, In various talk the chearful hours they paft, Port. Snuff, or the fan, supply each pause of chat, dine; 20 25 Mean while, declining from the noon of day, The fun obliquely fhoots his burning ray; The hungry Judges foon the fentence fign, And wretches hang that Jury-men may The merchant from th' Exchange returns in peace, And the long labours of the Toilet cease. Belinda now, whom thirst of fame invites, Burns to encounter two advent'rous Knights, At Ombre fingly to decide their doom; And fwells her breaft with conquefts yet to come. Straight the three bands prepare in arms to join, Each band the number of the facred Nine. Soon as she spreads her hand, th' aërial guard Defcend, and fit on each important card : First Ariel perch'd upon a Matadore, 30 Then each according to the rank they bore; For Sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race, 35 Are, as when women, wond'rous fond of place. Behold, four Kings, in majesty rever'd, With hoary whiskers and a forky beard; And VARIATIONS. VER. 24. And the long labours of the Toilet ceafe.] All that fol lows of the game at Ombre, was added fince the firft Edition, till ver. 105. which connected thus, Sudden the board with cups and spoons is crown'd. POPE. NOTES. VER. 22. And wretches hang] From Congreve. WARTON. |