The Rape of the Lock

釋意paraphrase): Canto IV

原文與注釋(Text and Annotation)


Belinda feels intense rage and despair over the loss (lines 1-10). Ariel and the other sylphs withdrew from Belinda. Umbriel, a melancholy spirit, descended to the Cave of Spleen (lines 11-16). Spleen dwells forever in this gloomy place (lines 17-24). Illnature now stands ready at the side of Spleen (lines 25-30). Affectation also is there, to give the various appearances of pride and woe (lines 31-38). Now "strange phantoms," some dreadful, some bright, fly over the palace (lines 39-46). Spleen gives odd shapes and suggestions to the bodies on every side (lines 47-54). Umbriel petitions the Queen (Spleen), who can affect people in various ways, to "touch Belinds" and thus give "half the world the spleen" (lines 55-78). Spleen gives Umbriel a bag and vial that contain the expressions of female emotions (lines 79-88).

1.Umbriel finds Belinda sunk in Thalestris' arms. He opens the bag over their heads, and the cries of resentment appear. Thalestris fires Belinda's anger. Was it for this loss that you (Belinda) endured all the pains of developing these curls? To avoid infamy, something must be done. Rather than let this prize remain unchallenged, let chaos and destruction fall (line 89-120). At her insistence, the empty-headed Sir Plume demands the reture of the lock. The Baron refuses (lines 121-140).

2. Umbriel having broken the vial of sorrows, Belinda appears "in beauteous grief" (lines 141-146). Belinda sorrowfully declares that she would have been happier "In some lone isle," away from the court. She asserts that she had been warned by badomens not to venture out. Now, the other lock hangs without its mate, doomed to a similar fate (lines 147-176).