The Rape of the Lock: Canto 2

Not with more glories, in th' etherial plain,
    The sun first rises o'er the purpled main,
    Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams
    Launch'd on the bosom of the silver Thames.
    Fair nymphs, and well-dress'd youths around her shone,
    But ev'ry eye was fix'd 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 unfix'd as those:
   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,
   Might hide her faults, if belles had faults to hide:
   If to her share some female errors fall,
   Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all.
       This nymph, to the destruction of mankind,
   Nourish'd two locks, which graceful hung behind
   In equal curls, and well conspir'd to deck
   With shining ringlets the smooth iv'ry neck.
   Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains,
   And mighty hearts are held in slender chains.
   With hairy springes we the birds betray,
   Slight lines of hair surprise the finney prey,
   Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare,
   And beauty draws us with a single hair.
       Th' advent'rous baron the bright locks admir'd;
   He saw, he wish'd, and to the prize aspir'd.
   Resolv'd to win, he meditates the way,
   By force to ravish, or by fraud betray;
   For when success a lover's toil attends,
   Few ask, if fraud or force attain'd his ends.
       For this, ere Phœbus rose, he had implor'd
   Propitious Heav'n, and ev'ry pow'r ador'd,
   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;
   With tender billet-doux he lights the pyre,
   And breathes three am'rous sighs to raise the fire.
   Then prostrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes
   Soon to obtain, and long possess the prize:
   The pow'rs gave ear, and granted half his pray'r,
   The rest, the winds dispers'd in empty air.

       But now secure the painted vessel glides,
   The sun-beams trembling on the floating tides,
   While melting music steals upon the sky,
   And soften'd sounds along the waters die.
   Smooth flow the waves, the zephyrs gently play,
   Belinda smil'd, and all the world was gay.
   All but the Sylph--with careful thoughts opprest,
   Th' impending woe sat heavy on his breast.
   He summons strait his denizens of air;
   The lucid squadrons round the sails repair:
   Soft o'er the shrouds aerial whispers breathe,
   That seem'd but zephyrs to the train beneath.
   Some to the sun their insect-wings unfold,
   Waft on the breeze, or sink in clouds of gold.
   Transparent forms, too fine for mortal sight,
   Their fluid bodies half dissolv'd in light,
   Loose to the wind their airy garments flew,
   Thin glitt'ring textures of the filmy dew;
   Dipp'd in the richest tincture of the skies,
   Where light disports in ever-mingling dyes,
   While ev'ry beam new transient colours flings,
   Colours that change whene'er they wave their wings.
   Amid the circle, on the gilded mast,
   Superior by the head, was Ariel plac'd;
   His purple pinions op'ning to the sun,
   He rais'd his azure wand, and thus begun.

       "Ye Sylphs and Sylphids, to your chief give ear!
   Fays, Fairies, Genii, Elves, and Dæmons, hear!
   Ye know the spheres and various tasks assign'd
   By laws eternal to th' aerial kind.
   Some in the fields of purest æther play,
   And bask and whiten in the blaze of day.
   Some guide the course of wand'ring orbs on high,
   Or roll the planets through the boundless sky.
   Some less refin'd, 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,
   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,
   And guard with arms divine the British throne.

       "Our humbler province is to tend the fair,
   Not a less pleasing, though less glorious care.
   To save the powder from too rude a gale,
   Nor let th' imprison'd essences exhale,