| Not with more glories, in the ethereal plain, |
[1-18];(1-4) |
| The sun first rises o'er the purpled main, |
|
| Than issuing forth, the rival of his beams |
|
| Launched on the bosom of the silver Thames. |
|
| Fair nymphs, and well-drest youths around her shone, |
5 [5-6] |
| But every eye was fixed on her alone. |
|
| On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore, |
|
| Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore. |
|
| Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose, |
|
| Quick as her eyes, and as unfixed as those: |
10 |
| Favours to none, to all she smiles extends, |
|
| Oft she rejects, but never once offends. |
|
| Bright as the sun, her eyes the gazers strike, |
|
| And, like the sun, they shine on all alike. |
|
| Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride, |
15 |
| Might hide her faults, if belles had faults to hide: |
|
| If to her share some female errors fall, |
(17-18) |
| Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all. |
|
| |
|
| This nymph, to the destruction of mankind, |
[19-28];(19-22) |
| Nourished two locks which graceful hung behind |
20 |
| In equal curls, and well conspired to deck |
|
| With shining ringlets the smooth ivory neck. |
|
| Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains, |
|
| And mighty hearts are held in slender chains. |
|
| With hairy sprindges we the birds betray, |
25 |
| Slight lines of hair surprise the finny prey, |
|
| Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare, |
|
| And beauty draws us with a single hair. |
|
| |
|
| The adventurous Baron the bright locks admired, |
(29-34) |
| He saw, he wished, and to the prize aspired: |
30 |
| Resolved to win, he meditates the way, |
|
| By force to ravish, or by fraud betray; |
|
| For when success a lover's toil attends, |
(33-34) |
| Few ask, if fraud or force attained his ends. |
|
| |
|
| For this, ere Phoebus rose, he had implored |
35 [35-46] |
| Propitious Heaven, and every power adored, |
|
| But chiefly Love-to Love an altar built, |
|
| Of twelve vast French romances, neatly gilt. |
|
| There lay three garters, half a pair of gloves, |
|
| And all the trophies of his former loves. |
40 |
| With tender billet-doux he lights the pyre, |
|
| And breathes three amorous sighs to raise the fire. |
|
| Then prostrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes |
|
| Soon to obtain, and long possess the prize: |
(44-45) |
| The powers gave ear, and granted half his prayer, |
45 |
| The rest, the winds dispersed in empty air. |
|
| |
|
| But now secure the painted vessel glides, |
[47-72] |
| The sun-beams trembling on the floating tydes, |
|
| While melting music steals upon the sky, |
|
| And softened sounds along the waters die. |
50 |
| Smooth flow the waves, the zephyrs gently play, |
|
| Belinda smiled, and all the world was gay. |
|
| All but the Sylph-with careful thoughts opprest, |
|
| The impending woe sat heavy on his breast. |
|
| He summons straight his denizens of air; |
55 |
| The lucid squadrons round the sails repair: |
|
| Soft ov'r the shrouds aerial whispers breath, |
|
| That seemed but zephyrs to the train beneath. |
|
| Some to the sun their insect-wings unfold, |
|
| Waft on the breeze, or sink in clouds of gold. |
60 |
| Transparent forms, too fine for mortal sight, |
|
| Their fluid bodies half dissolved in light. |
|
| Loose to the wind their airy garments flew, |
|
| Thin glittering textures of the filmy dew; |
|
| Dipt in the richest tincture of the skies, |
65 |
| Where light disports in ever-mingling dies, |
|
| While every beam new transient colors flings, |
(67-68) |
| Colours that change whene'er they wave their wings. |
|
| Amid the circle, on the gilded mast, |
|
| Superior by the head, was Ariel placed: |
70 |
| His purple pinions opening to the sun, |
|
He raised his azure wand, and thus begun.
|
|
| |
|
| "Ye Slyphs and Sylphids, to your chief give ear! |
[73-90] |
| Fays, Fairies, Genii, Elves, and Daemons hear! |
|
| Ye know the spheres and various tasks assigned |
75 (75-76) |
| By laws eternal to the aerial kind. |
|
| Some in the fields of purest ether play. |
|
| And bask and whiten in the blaze of day. |
|
| Some guide the course of wandering orbs on high, |
|
| Or roll the planets through the boundless sky. |
80 |
| Some less refined, beneath the moon's pale light |
|
| Pursue the stars that shoot athwart the night; |
|
| Or suck the mists in grosser air below, |
|
| Or dip their pinions in the painted bow, |
|
| Or brew fierce tempests on the wintry main, |
85 |
| Or o'er the glebe distil the kindly rain. |
|
| Others on earth o'er human race preside, |
|
| Watch all their ways, and all their actions guide: |
|
| Of these the chief the care of nations own, |
(89-90) |
| And guard with rms divine the British Throne. |
90 |
| |
|
| "Our humbler province is to tend the fair, |
[91-100] |
| Not a less pleasing, though less glorious care. |
|
| To save the powder from too rude a gale, |
|
| Nor let the imprisoned essences exhale; |
|
| To draw fresh colours from the vernal flowers, |
95 |
| 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, |
[101-16] |
| That e'er deserved a watchful spirit's care; |
|
| Some dire disaster, or by force, of slight, |
|
| But what, or where, the Fates have wrapt in night. |
|
| Whether the nymph shall break Diana's law, |
105 (105-106) |
| Or some frail China jar receive a flaw, |
|
| Or stain her honour, or her new brocade, |
|
| Forget her prayers, or miss a masquerade, |
|
| Or lose her heart, or necklace, at a ball; |
|
| Or whether heaven has doomed that Shock must fall. |
110 |
| Haste then ye spirits! to your charge repair; |
|
| The fluttering fan be Zephyretta's care; |
|
| The drops to thee, Brillante, we consign; |
|
| And, Momentilla, let the watch be thine; |
|
| Do thou, Crispissa, tend her faverite Lock; |
115 |
| Ariel himself shall be the guard of Shock. |
|
| |
|
| "To fifty chosen Sylphs, of special note, |
[117-22];(117-18) |
| We trust thr important charge, the petticoat: |
|
| Oft have we known that sevenfold fence to fail, |
|
| Though stiff with hoops, and armed with ribs of whale. |
120 |
| Form a strong line about the silver bound, |
|
| And guard the wide circumference around. |
|
| |
|
| Whatever spirit, careless of his charge, |
[123-36] |
| His post neglects, or leaves the fair at large, |
|
| Shall feel sharp vengeance soon o'ertake his sins, |
125 |
| Be stopped in vials, or transfixt with pins; |
|
| Or plunged in lakes of bitter washes lie, |
|
| Or wedged whole ages in a bodkin's Eye: |
|
| Gums and pomatums shall his flight restrain, |
|
| While clogged he beats his silken wings in vain; |
130 |
| Or Alom-Stypticks with contracting power |
(131-132) |
| Shrink his thin essence like a rivelled flower. |
|
| Or, as Ixion fixed, the wretch shall feel |
|
| The giddy motion of the whirling mill, |
|
| In fumes of burning chocolate shall glow |
135 |
| And tremble at the sea that froaths below!" |
|
| |
|
| He spoke; the spirits from the sails descend; |
[137-42] |
| Some, orb in orb, around the nymph extend, |
|
| Some thread the mazy ringlets of her hair, |
|
| Some hang upon the pendants of her ear; |
140 |
| With beating hearts the dire event they wait, |
(141-142) |
| Anxious, and trembling for the birth of Fate. |
|