of a poet to have his works understood, and particularly by your sex, that you must give me leave to explain two or three difficult terms. The Rosicrucians are a people I must bring you acquainted with. The best account I know of them is in a French book call'd Le Comte de Gabalis, which both in its title and size is so like a novel that many of the fair sex have read it for one by mistake. According to these gentlemen, the four elements are inhabited by Spirits, which they call Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders. The Gnomes, or dæmons of Earth, delight in mischief; but the Sylphs, whose habitation is in the air, are the best conditioned creatures imaginable. For they say, any mortals may enjoy the most intimate familiarities with these gentle spirits, upon a condition very easy to all true adepts, an inviolate preservation of chastity. As to the following Cantos, all the personages of them are as fabulous as the Vision at the beginning, or the Transformation at the end (except the loss of your hair, which I always mention with reverence). The human persons are as fictitious as the airy ones; and the character of Belinda, as it is now managed, resembles you in nothing but in beauty. If this poem had as many graces as there are in your person or in your mind, yet I could never hope it would pass through the world half so uncensur'd as you have done. But let its fortune be what it will, mine is happy enough to have given me this occasion of assuring you that I am, with the truest esteem. Madam, Your most obedient, humble servant, A. POPE. CANTO I. WHAT dire offence from am'rous causes springs, Say what strange motive, Goddess! could compel Thrice rung the bell, the slipper knock'd the ground, And the press'd watch return'd a silver sound. Belinda still her downy pillow prest, 20 Her guardian Sylph prolong'd the balmy rest: 'Twas he had summon'd to her silent bed The morning dream that hover'd o'er her head; A youth more glitt'ring than a Birth-night Beau, (That ev'n in slumber caused her cheek to glow) 25 Seem'd to her ear his winning lips to lay, And thus in whispers said, or seem'd to say: "Fairest of mortals, thou distinguish'd care Of thousand bright Inhabitants of Air! If e'er one vision touch'd thy infant thought, 30 Of all the nurse and all the priest have taught— Of airy elves by moonlight shadows seen, The silver token, and the circled green, Or virgins visited by Angel-pow'rs, With golden crowns and wreaths of heav'nly flow'rs35 Hear and believe! thy own importance know, Nor bound thy narrow views to things below. Some secret truths, from learned pride conceal'd, To maids alone and children are reveal'd. What tho' no credit doubting Wits may give? 40 The fair and innocent shall still believe. Know, then, unnumber'd Spirits round thee fly, The light militia of the lower sky: These, tho' unseen, are ever on the wing, Hang o'er the Box, and hover round the Ring. 50 From earthly vehicles to these of air. Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled, That all her vanities at once are dead; Succeeding vanities she still regards, And tho' she plays no more, o'erlooks the cards. 65 Her joy in gilded chariots, when alive, And love of Ombre, after death survive. In search of mischief still on earth to roam. 65 The light coquettes in Sylphs aloft repair, And sport and flutter in the fields of air. "Know further yet: whoever fair and chaste Rejects mankind, is by some Sylph embrac'd; For spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease 70 Assume what sexes and what shapes they please. What guards the purity of melting maids, In courtly balls and midnight masquerades, Safe from the treach 'rous friend, the daring spark, The glance by day, the whisper in the dark, 75 When kind occasion prompts their warm desires, When music softens, and when dancing fires? 'Tis but their Sylph, the wise celestials know, Tho' honor is the word' with men below. Some nymphs there are too conscious of their face, 80 For life predestin'd to the Gnome's embrace. These swell their prospects and exalt their pride, When offers are disdain'd, and love deny'd; Then gay ideas crowd the vacant brain, While peers, and dukes, and all their sweeping train, 85 And garters, stars, and coronets appear, And in soft sounds, 'Your Grace' salutes their ear. "Tis these that early taint the female soul, Instruct the eyes of young coquettes to roll, Teach infant-cheeks a hidden blush to know, 90 And little hearts to flutter at a Beau. "Oft, when the world imagine women stray, The Sylphs thro' mystic mazes guide their way; Thro' all the giddy circle they pursue, And old impertinence expel by new. 95 What tender maid but must a victim fall To one man's treat, but for another's ball, 100 They shift the moving toyshop of their heart; 105 Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive, Beaus banish beaus, and coaches coaches drive. Oh blind to truth! the Sylphs contrive it all. Beware of all, but most beware of Man!" 115 He said; when Shock, who thought she slept too long, Leap'd up, and wak'd his mistress with his tongue. 'Twas then, Belinda! if report say true, Thy eyes first open'd on a billet-doux; Wounds, charms, and ardors were no sooner read, 120 But all the vision vanish'd from thy head. And now, unveil'd, the toilet stands display'd, First, rob'd in white, the nymph intent adores, 125 A heav'nly image in the glass appears; |