To steal from rainbows ere they drop in showers,

A brighter wash; to curl their waving hairs, Assist their blushes, and inspire their airs; Nay, oft in dreams, invention we bestow, To change a flounce, or add a furbelow. 100 'This day, black omens threat the brightest fair

That e'er deserved a watchful spirit's care; Some dire disaster, or by force, or slight; But what, or where, the fates have wrapped in night.

Whether the nymph shall break Diana's law,

105

Of foreign tyrants and of nymphs at home; Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey,

Doth sometimes counsel take-and sometimes tea.

Hither the heroes and the nymphs resort, To taste awhile the pleasures of a court; 10 In various talk the instructive hours they passed,

Who gave the ball, or paid the visit last; One speaks the glory of the British queen, And one describes a charming Indian

As many more Manillio forced to yield, And marched a victor from the verdant field.

Him Basto followed, but his fate more hard Gained but one trump and one plebeian card.

56

With his broad saber next, a chief in years,
The hoary majesty of spades appears,
Puts forth one manly leg, to sight revealed,
The rest, his many-colored robe concealed.
The rebel knave, who dares his prince en-
gage,

Proves the just victim of his royal rage. 60 Even mighty Pam, that kings and queens o'erthrew,

And mowed down armies in the fights of Loo,

Sad chance of war! now destitute of aid, Falls undistinguished by the victor spade!

Thus far both armies to Belinda yield; 65 Now to the baron fate inclines the field. His warlike Amazon her host invades, The imperial consort of the crown of spades,

The club's black tyrant first her victim died, Spite of his haughty mien, and barbarous pride:

70

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 wood, and long canals reply. Oh, thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate,

101

Too soon dejected, and too soon elate. Sudden, these honors shall be snatched

And frequent cups prolong the rich repast. Straight hover round the fair her airy band; Some, as she sipped, the fuming liquor fanned,

Some o'er her lap their careful plumes displayed,

115

Trembling, and conscious of the rich brocade.

Coffee (which makes the politician wise, And see through all things with his halfshut eyes)

Sent up in vapors to the baron's brain

New stratagems the radiant lock to gain, 120 Ah, cease, rash youth! desist ere 't is too late,

Fear the just gods, and think of Scylla's fate!

Changed to a bird, and sent to flit in air, She dearly pays for Nisus' injured hair!

But when to mischief mortals bend their will,

125

He takes the gift with reverence, and extends

The little engine on his finger's 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 sprites repair, A thousand wings, by turns, blow back the hair;

136 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 the nosegay in her breast reclined,
He watched the 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 ex-
pired,

145

Resigned to fate, and with a sigh retired. The peer now spreads the glittering forfex wide,

To inclose the lock; now joins it, to divide. Even then, before the fatal engine closed, A wretched sylph too fondly interposed; Fate urged the shears, and cut the sylph in twain,

151

(But airy substance soon unites again) The meeting points the sacred hair dissever

A branch of healing spleenwort in his hand. Then thus addressed the power: 'Hail, wayward queen!

Who rule the sex, to fifty from fifteen:
Parent of vapors and of female wit,
Who give the hysteric, or poetic fit, 60
On various tempers act by various ways,
Make some take physic, others scribble
plays;

Who cause the proud their visits to delay,
And send the godly in a pet to pray.

A nymph there is, that all thy power disdains, 65 And thousands more in equal mirth maintains.

But oh! if e'er thy gnome could spoil a

The bodkin, comb, and essence to prepare? For this your locks in paper durance bound, For this with torturing irons wreathed around?

For this with fillets strained your tender head,

ΙΟΥ

And bravely bore the double loads of lead? Gods! shall the ravisher display your hair, While the fops envy, and the ladies stare! Honor forbid! at whose unrivalled shrine 105 Ease, pleasure, virtue, all our sex resign. Methinks already I your tears survey, Already hear the horrid things they say, Already see you a degraded toast,

And all your honor in a whisper lost! 110 How shall I, then, your helpless fame defend?

'T will then be infamy to seem your friend! And shall this prize, the inestimable prize, Exposed through crystal to the gazing eyes, And heightened by the diamond's circling

'It grieves me much,' replied the peer again, 'Who speaks so well should ever speak in vain.

But by this lock, this sacred lock, I swear, (Which never more shall join its parted hair;

Which never more its honors shall renew, Clipped from the lovely head where late it grew) 136

That while my nostrils draw the vital air, This hand, which won it, shall for ever wear.'

He spoke, and speaking, in proud triumph spread

The long-contended honors of her head. But Umbriel, hateful gnome! forbears not

130

A sylph, too, warned me of the threats of fate, 165 In mystic visions, now believed too late!

Give her the hair,' he spoke, and rapped his box.