Canto I

1 What dire offence from am’rous causes springs,

2 What mighty contests rise from trivial things,

3 I sing–This verse to Caryl, Muse! is due:

4 This, ev’n Belinda may vouchsafe to view:

5 Slight is the subject, but not so the praise,

6 If she inspire, and he approve my lays.

7      Say what strange motive, Goddess! could compel

8 A well-bred lord t’ assault a gentle belle?

9 O say what stranger cause, yet unexplor’d,

10 Could make a gentle belle reject a lord?

11 In tasks so bold, can little men engage,

12 And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty rage?

13      Sol thro’ white curtains shot a tim’rous ray,

14 And op’d those eyes that must eclipse the day;

15 Now lap-dogs give themselves the rousing shake,

16 And sleepless lovers, just at twelve, awake:

17 Thrice rung the bell, the slipper knock’d the ground,

18 And the press’d watch return’d a silver sound.

19 Belinda still her downy pillow press’d,

20 Her guardian sylph prolong’d the balmy rest:

21 ‘Twas he had summon’d to her silent bed

22 The morning dream that hover’d o’er her head;

23 A youth more glitt’ring than a birthnight beau,

24 (That ev’n in slumber caus’d her cheek to glow)

25 Seem’d to her ear his winning lips to lay,

26 And thus in whispers said, or seem’d to say.

27      “Fairest of mortals, thou distinguish’d care

28 Of thousand bright inhabitants of air!

29 If e’er one vision touch’d thy infant thought,

30 Of all the nurse and all the priest have taught,

31 Of airy elves by moonlight shadows seen,

32 The silver token, and the circled green,

33 Or virgins visited by angel pow’rs,

34 With golden crowns and wreaths of heav’nly flow’rs,

35 Hear and believe! thy own importance know,

36 Nor bound thy narrow views to things below.

37 Some secret truths from learned pride conceal’d,

38 To maids alone and children are reveal’d:

39 What tho’ no credit doubting wits may give?

40 The fair and innocent shall still believe.

41 Know then, unnumber’d spirits round thee fly,

42 The light militia of the lower sky;

43 These, though unseen, are ever on the wing,

44 Hang o’er the box, and hover round the Ring.

45 Think what an equipage thou hast in air,

46 And view with scorn two pages and a chair.

47 As now your own, our beings were of old,

48 And once inclos’d in woman’s beauteous mould;

49 Thence, by a soft transition, we repair

50 From earthly vehicles to these of air.

51 Think not, when woman’s transient breath is fled,

52 That all her vanities at once are dead;

53 Succeeding vanities she still regards,

54 And tho’ she plays no more, o’erlooks the cards.

55 Her joy in gilded chariots, when alive,

56 And love of ombre, after death survive.

57 For when the fair in all their pride expire,

58 To their first elements their souls retire:

59 The sprites of fiery termagants in flame

60 Mount up, and take a Salamander’s name.

61 Soft yielding minds to water glide away,

62 And sip with Nymphs, their elemental tea.

63 The graver prude sinks downward to a Gnome,

64 In search of mischief still on earth to roam.

65 The light coquettes in Sylphs aloft repair,

66 And sport and flutter in the fields of air.

67      Know further yet; whoever fair and chaste

68 Rejects mankind, is by some sylph embrac’d:

69 For spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease

70 Assume what sexes and what shapes they please.

71 What guards the purity of melting maids,

72 In courtly balls, and midnight masquerades,

73 Safe from the treach’rous friend, the daring spark,

74 The glance by day, the whisper in the dark,

75 When kind occasion prompts their warm desires,

76 When music softens, and when dancing fires?

77 ‘Tis but their sylph, the wise celestials know,

78 Though honour is the word with men below.

79      Some nymphs there are, too conscious of their face,

80 For life predestin’d to the gnomes’ embrace.

81 These swell their prospects and exalt their pride,

82 When offers are disdain’d, and love denied:

83 Then gay ideas crowd the vacant brain,

84 While peers, and dukes, and all their sweeping train,

85 And garters, stars, and coronets appear,

86 And in soft sounds ‘Your Grace’ salutes their ear.

87 ‘Tis these that early taint the female soul,

88 Instruct the eyes of young coquettes to roll,

89 Teach infant cheeks a bidden blush to know,

90 And little hearts to flutter at a beau.

91      Oft, when the world imagine women stray,

92 The Sylphs through mystic mazes guide their way,

93 Thro’ all the giddy circle they pursue,

94 And old impertinence expel by new.

95 What tender maid but must a victim fall

96 To one man’s treat, but for another’s ball?

97 When Florio speaks, what virgin could withstand,

98 If gentle Damon did not squeeze her hand?

99 With varying vanities, from ev’ry part,

100 They shift the moving toyshop of their heart;

101 Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive,

102 Beaux banish beaux, and coaches coaches drive.

103 This erring mortals levity may call,

104 Oh blind to truth! the Sylphs contrive it all.

105      Of these am I, who thy protection claim,

106 A watchful sprite, and Ariel is my name.

107 Late, as I rang’d the crystal wilds of air,

108 In the clear mirror of thy ruling star

109 I saw, alas! some dread event impend,

110 Ere to the main this morning sun descend,

111 But Heav’n reveals not what, or how, or where:

112 Warn’d by the Sylph, oh pious maid, beware!

113 This to disclose is all thy guardian can.

114 Beware of all, but most beware of man!”

115      He said; when Shock, who thought she slept too long,

116 Leap’d up, and wak’d his mistress with his tongue.

117 ‘Twas then, Belinda, if report say true,

118 Thy eyes first open’d on a billet-doux;

119 Wounds, charms, and ardors were no sooner read,

120 But all the vision vanish’d from thy head.

121      And now, unveil’d, the toilet stands display’d,

122 Each silver vase in mystic order laid.

123 First, rob’d in white, the nymph intent adores

124 With head uncover’d, the cosmetic pow’rs.

125 A heav’nly image in the glass appears,

126 To that she bends, to that her eyes she rears;

127 Th’ inferior priestess, at her altar’s side,

128 Trembling, begins the sacred rites of pride.

129 Unnumber’d treasures ope at once, and here

130 The various off’rings of the world appear;

131 From each she nicely culls with curious toil,

132 And decks the goddess with the glitt’ring spoil.

133 This casket India’s glowing gems unlocks,

134 And all Arabia breathes from yonder box.

135 The tortoise here and elephant unite,

136 Transform’d to combs, the speckled and the white.

137 Here files of pins extend their shining rows,

138 Puffs, powders, patches, bibles, billet-doux.

139 Now awful beauty puts on all its arms;

140 The fair each moment rises in her charms,

141 Repairs her smiles, awakens ev’ry grace,

142 And calls forth all the wonders of her face;

143 Sees by degrees a purer blush arise,

144 And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes.

145 The busy Sylphs surround their darling care;

146 These set the head, and those divide the hair,

147 Some fold the sleeve, whilst others plait the gown;

148 And Betty’s prais’d for labours not her own.

Canto II

1 Not with more glories, in th’ etherial plain,

2 The sun first rises o’er the purpled main,

3 Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams

4 Launch’d on the bosom of the silver Thames.

5 Fair nymphs, and well-dress’d youths around her shone,

6 But ev’ry eye was fix’d on her alone.

7 On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,

8 Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore.

9 Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose,

10 Quick as her eyes, and as unfix’d as those:

11 Favours to none, to all she smiles extends;

12 Oft she rejects, but never once offends.

13 Bright as the sun, her eyes the gazers strike,

14 And, like the sun, they shine on all alike.

15 Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride,

16 Might hide her faults, if belles had faults to hide:

17 If to her share some female errors fall,

18 Look on her face, and you’ll forget ’em all.

19      This nymph, to the destruction of mankind,

20 Nourish’d two locks, which graceful hung behind

21 In equal curls, and well conspir’d to deck

22 With shining ringlets the smooth iv’ry neck.

23 Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains,

24 And mighty hearts are held in slender chains.

25 With hairy springes we the birds betray,

26 Slight lines of hair surprise the finney prey,

27 Fair tresses man’s imperial race ensnare,

28 And beauty draws us with a single hair.

29      Th’ advent’rous baron the bright locks admir’d;

30 He saw, he wish’d, and to the prize aspir’d.

31 Resolv’d to win, he meditates the way,

32 By force to ravish, or by fraud betray;

33 For when success a lover’s toil attends,

34 Few ask, if fraud or force attain’d his ends.

35      For this, ere Phœbus rose, he had implor’d

36 Propitious Heav’n, and ev’ry pow’r ador’d,

37 But chiefly love–to love an altar built,

38 Of twelve vast French romances, neatly gilt.

39 There lay three garters, half a pair of gloves;

40 And all the trophies of his former loves;

41 With tender billet-doux he lights the pyre,

42 And breathes three am’rous sighs to raise the fire.

43 Then prostrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes

44 Soon to obtain, and long possess the prize:

45 The pow’rs gave ear, and granted half his pray’r,

46 The rest, the winds dispers’d in empty air.

47      But now secure the painted vessel glides,

48 The sun-beams trembling on the floating tides,

49 While melting music steals upon the sky,

50 And soften’d sounds along the waters die.

51 Smooth flow the waves, the zephyrs gently play,

52 Belinda smil’d, and all the world was gay.

53 All but the Sylph–with careful thoughts opprest,

54 Th’ impending woe sat heavy on his breast.

55 He summons strait his denizens of air;

56 The lucid squadrons round the sails repair:

57 Soft o’er the shrouds aerial whispers breathe,

58 That seem’d but zephyrs to the train beneath.

59 Some to the sun their insect-wings unfold,

60 Waft on the breeze, or sink in clouds of gold.

61 Transparent forms, too fine for mortal sight,

62 Their fluid bodies half dissolv’d in light,

63 Loose to the wind their airy garments flew,

64 Thin glitt’ring textures of the filmy dew;

65 Dipp’d in the richest tincture of the skies,

66 Where light disports in ever-mingling dyes,

67 While ev’ry beam new transient colours flings,

68 Colours that change whene’er they wave their wings.

69 Amid the circle, on the gilded mast,

70 Superior by the head, was Ariel plac’d;

71 His purple pinions op’ning to the sun,

72 He rais’d his azure wand, and thus begun.

73      “Ye Sylphs and Sylphids, to your chief give ear!

74 Fays, Fairies, Genii, Elves, and Dæmons, hear!

75 Ye know the spheres and various tasks assign’d

76 By laws eternal to th’ aerial kind.

77 Some in the fields of purest æther play,

78 And bask and whiten in the blaze of day.

79 Some guide the course of wand’ring orbs on high,

80 Or roll the planets through the boundless sky.

81 Some less refin’d, beneath the moon’s pale light

82 Pursue the stars that shoot athwart the night,

83 Or suck the mists in grosser air below,

84 Or dip their pinions in the painted bow,

85 Or brew fierce tempests on the wintry main,

86 Or o’er the glebe distil the kindly rain.

87 Others on earth o’er human race preside,

88 Watch all their ways, and all their actions guide:

89 Of these the chief the care of nations own,

90 And guard with arms divine the British throne.

91      “Our humbler province is to tend the fair,

92 Not a less pleasing, though less glorious care.

93 To save the powder from too rude a gale,

94 Nor let th’ imprison’d essences exhale,

95 To draw fresh colours from the vernal flow’rs,

96 To steal from rainbows e’er they drop in show’rs

97 A brighter wash; to curl their waving hairs,

98 Assist their blushes, and inspire their airs;

99 Nay oft, in dreams, invention we bestow,

100 To change a flounce, or add a furbelow.

101      “This day, black omens threat the brightest fair

102 That e’er deserv’d a watchful spirit’s care;

103 Some dire disaster, or by force, or slight,

104 But what, or where, the fates have wrapt in night.

105 Whether the nymph shall break Diana’s law,

106 Or some frail china jar receive a flaw;

107 Or stain her honour, or her new brocade,

108 Forget her pray’rs, or miss a masquerade;

109 Or lose her heart, or necklace, at a ball;

110 Or whether Heav’n has doom’d that Shock must fall.

111 Haste, then, ye spirits! to your charge repair:

112 The flutt’ring fan be Zephyretta’s care;

113 The drops to thee, Brillante, we consign;

114 And, Momentilla, let the watch be thine;

115 Do thou, Crispissa, tend her fav’rite lock;

116 Ariel himself shall be the guard of Shock.

117      “To fifty chosen Sylphs, of special note,

118 We trust th’ important charge, the petticoat:

119 Oft have we known that sev’n-fold fence to fail,

120 Though stiff with hoops, and arm’d with ribs of whale.

121 Form a strong line about the silver bound,

122 And guard the wide circumference around.

123      “Whatever spirit, careless of his charge,

124 His post neglects, or leaves the fair at large,

125 Shall feel sharp vengeance soon o’ertake his sins,

126 Be stopp’d in vials, or transfix’d with pins;

127 Or plung’d in lakes of bitter washes lie,

128 Or wedg’d whole ages in a bodkin’s eye:

129 Gums and pomatums shall his flight restrain,

130 While clogg’d he beats his silken wings in vain;

131 Or alum styptics with contracting pow’r

132 Shrink his thin essence like a rivell’d flow’r.

133 Or, as Ixion fix’d, the wretch shall feel

134 The giddy motion of the whirling mill,

135 In fumes of burning chocolate shall glow,

136 And tremble at the sea that froths below!”

137      He spoke; the spirits from the sails descend;

138 Some, orb in orb, around the nymph extend,

139 Some thrid the mazy ringlets of her hair,

140 Some hang upon the pendants of her ear;

141 With beating hearts the dire event they wait,

142 Anxious, and trembling for the birth of fate.

Canto III

1 Close by those meads, for ever crown’d with flow’rs,

2 Where Thames with pride surveys his rising tow’rs,

3 There stands a structure of majestic frame,

4 Which from the neighb’ring Hampton takes its name.

5 Here Britain’s statesmen oft the fall foredoom

6 Of foreign tyrants and of nymphs at home;

7 Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey,

8 Dost sometimes counsel take–and sometimes tea.

9      Hither the heroes and the nymphs resort,

10 To taste awhile the pleasures of a court;

11 In various talk th’ instructive hours they pass’d,

12 Who gave the ball, or paid the visit last;

13 One speaks the glory of the British queen,

14 And one describes a charming Indian screen;

15 A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes;

16 At ev’ry word a reputation dies.

17 Snuff, or the fan, supply each pause of chat,

18 With singing, laughing, ogling, and all that.

19      Meanwhile, declining from the noon of day,

20 The sun obliquely shoots his burning ray;

21 The hungry judges soon the sentence sign,

22 And wretches hang that jury-men may dine;

23 The merchant from th’ Exchange returns in peace,

24 And the long labours of the toilet cease.

25 Belinda now, whom thirst of fame invites,

26 Burns to encounter two adventrous knights,

27 At ombre singly to decide their doom;

28 And swells her breast with conquests yet to come.

29 Straight the three bands prepare in arms to join,

30 Each band the number of the sacred nine.

31 Soon as she spreads her hand, th’ aerial guard

32 Descend, and sit on each important card:

33 First Ariel perch’d upon a Matadore,

34 Then each, according to the rank they bore;

35 For Sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race,

36 Are, as when women, wondrous fond of place.

37      Behold, four Kings in majesty rever’d,

38 With hoary whiskers and a forky beard;

39 And four fair Queens whose hands sustain a flow’r,

40 Th’ expressive emblem of their softer pow’r;

41 Four Knaves in garbs succinct, a trusty band,

42 Caps on their heads, and halberds in their hand;

43 And parti-colour’d troops, a shining train,

44 Draw forth to combat on the velvet plain.

45      The skilful nymph reviews her force with care:

46 “Let Spades be trumps!” she said, and trumps they were.

47      Now move to war her sable Matadores,

48 In show like leaders of the swarthy Moors.

49 Spadillio first, unconquerable lord!

50 Led off two captive trumps, and swept the board.

51 As many more Manillio forc’d to yield,

52 And march’d a victor from the verdant field.

53 Him Basto follow’d, but his fate more hard

54 Gain’d but one trump and one plebeian card.

55 With his broad sabre next, a chief in years,

56 The hoary Majesty of Spades appears;

57 Puts forth one manly leg, to sight reveal’d;

58 The rest, his many-colour’d robe conceal’d.

59 The rebel Knave, who dares his prince engage,

60 Proves the just victim of his royal rage.

61 Ev’n mighty Pam, that kings and queens o’erthrew

62 And mow’d down armies in the fights of loo,

63 Sad chance of war! now destitute of aid,

64 Falls undistinguish’d by the victor Spade!

65      Thus far both armies to Belinda yield;

66 Now to the baron fate inclines the field.

67 His warlike Amazon her host invades,

68 Th’ imperial consort of the crown of Spades.

69 The Club’s black tyrant first her victim died,

70 Spite of his haughty mien, and barb’rous pride:

71 What boots the regal circle on his head,

72 His giant limbs, in state unwieldy spread;

73 That long behind he trails his pompous robe,

74 And of all monarchs, only grasps the globe?

75      The baron now his diamonds pours apace;

76 Th’ embroider’d King who shows but half his face,

77 And his refulgent Queen, with pow’rs combin’d

78 Of broken troops an easy conquest find.

79 Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild disorder seen,

80 With throngs promiscuous strow the level green.

81 Thus when dispers’d a routed army runs,

82 Of Asia’s troops, and Afric’s sable sons,

83 With like confusion diff’rent nations fly,

84 Of various habit, and of various dye,

85 The pierc’d battalions disunited fall.

86 In heaps on heaps; one fate o’erwhelms them all.

87      The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts,

88 And wins (oh shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts.

89 At this, the blood the virgin’s cheek forsook,

90 A livid paleness spreads o’er all her look;

91 She sees, and trembles at th’ approaching ill,

92 Just in the jaws of ruin, and codille.

93 And now (as oft in some distemper’d state)

94 On one nice trick depends the gen’ral fate.

95 An Ace of Hearts steps forth: The King unseen

96 Lurk’d in her hand, and mourn’d his captive Queen:

97 He springs to vengeance with an eager pace,

98 And falls like thunder on the prostrate Ace.

99 The nymph exulting fills with shouts the sky;

100 The walls, the woods, and long canals reply.

101      Oh thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate,

102 Too soon dejected, and too soon elate!

103 Sudden, these honours shall be snatch’d away,

104 And curs’d for ever this victorious day.

105      For lo! the board with cups and spoons is crown’d,

106 The berries crackle, and the mill turns round.

107 On shining altars of Japan they raise

108 The silver lamp; the fiery spirits blaze.

109 From silver spouts the grateful liquors glide,

110 While China’s earth receives the smoking tide.

111 At once they gratify their scent and taste,

112 And frequent cups prolong the rich repast.

113 Straight hover round the fair her airy band;

114 Some, as she sipp’d, the fuming liquor fann’d,

115 Some o’er her lap their careful plumes display’d,

116 Trembling, and conscious of the rich brocade.

117 Coffee, (which makes the politician wise,

118 And see through all things with his half-shut eyes)

119 Sent up in vapours to the baron’s brain

120 New stratagems, the radiant lock to gain.

121 Ah cease, rash youth! desist ere ’tis too late,

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

123 Chang’d to a bird, and sent to flit in air,

124 She dearly pays for Nisus’ injur’d hair!

125      But when to mischief mortals bend their will,

126 How soon they find fit instruments of ill!

127 Just then, Clarissa drew with tempting grace

128 A two-edg’d weapon from her shining case;

129 So ladies in romance assist their knight

130 Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.

131 He takes the gift with rev’rence, and extends

132 The little engine on his fingers’ ends;

133 This just behind Belinda’s neck he spread,

134 As o’er the fragrant steams she bends her head.

135 Swift to the lock a thousand sprites repair,

136 A thousand wings, by turns, blow back the hair,

137 And thrice they twitch’d the diamond in her ear,

138 Thrice she look’d back, and thrice the foe drew near.

139 Just in that instant, anxious Ariel sought

140 The close recesses of the virgin’s thought;

141 As on the nosegay in her breast reclin’d,

142 He watch’d th’ ideas rising in her mind,

143 Sudden he view’d, in spite of all her art,

144 An earthly lover lurking at her heart.

145 Amaz’d, confus’d, he found his pow’r expir’d,

146 Resign’d to fate, and with a sigh retir’d.

147      The peer now spreads the glitt’ring forfex wide,

148 T’ inclose the lock; now joins it, to divide.

149 Ev’n then, before the fatal engine clos’d,

150 A wretched Sylph too fondly interpos’d;

151 Fate urg’d the shears, and cut the Sylph in twain,

152 (But airy substance soon unites again).

153 The meeting points the sacred hair dissever

154 From the fair head, for ever, and for ever!

155      Then flash’d the living lightning from her eyes,

156 And screams of horror rend th’ affrighted skies.

157 Not louder shrieks to pitying Heav’n are cast,

158 When husbands or when lap-dogs breathe their last,

159 Or when rich China vessels, fall’n from high,

160 In glitt’ring dust and painted fragments lie!

161      “Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine,”

162 The victor cried, “the glorious prize is mine!

163 While fish in streams, or birds delight in air,

164 Or in a coach and six the British fair,

165 As long at Atalantis shall be read,

166 Or the small pillow grace a lady’s bed,

167 While visits shall be paid on solemn days,

168 When num’rous wax-lights in bright order blaze,

169 While nymphs take treats, or assignations give,

170 So long my honour, name, and praise shall live!

171 What time would spare, from steel receives its date,

172 And monuments, like men, submit to fate!

173 Steel could the labour of the gods destroy,

174 And strike to dust th’ imperial tow’rs of Troy;

175 Steel could the works of mortal pride confound,

176 And hew triumphal arches to the ground.

177 What wonder then, fair nymph! thy hairs should feel

178 The conqu’ring force of unresisted steel?”