The rape of the lock : an heroi-comical poem in five cantos . hief:but the Sylphs, whose Habitation is Air, are the best-condi-tioned Creatures imaginable. For they say, any Mortalsmay enjoy the most intimate Familiarities with these gentleSpirits, upon a Condition very easy to all true Adepts, aninviolate Preservation of Chastity. As to the following Cantos, all the Passages of them areas Fabulous, as the Vision at the Beginning, or the Trans- TO MRS. ARABELLA FERMOR XUl formation at the End; (except the Loss of your Hair,which I always name with Reverence.) The HumanPersons are as Fictitious
The rape of the lock : an heroi-comical poem in five cantos . hief:but the Sylphs, whose Habitation is Air, are the best-condi-tioned Creatures imaginable. For they say, any Mortalsmay enjoy the most intimate Familiarities with these gentleSpirits, upon a Condition very easy to all true Adepts, aninviolate Preservation of Chastity. As to the following Cantos, all the Passages of them areas Fabulous, as the Vision at the Beginning, or the Trans- TO MRS. ARABELLA FERMOR XUl formation at the End; (except the Loss of your Hair,which I always name with Reverence.) The HumanPersons are as Fictitious as the Airy ones; and theCharacter of Belinda, as it is now managd, resembles Youin nothing but in Beauty. If this Poem had as many Graces as there are in YourPerson, or in Your Mind, yet I could never hope it shouldpass thro the World half so Uncensured as You have 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 ObedientHumble Servant, A. OiiiL. ^Xx THE RAPE OF THE LOCK CANTO I WHAT dire Offence from amrous Causes springs,What mighty Contests rise from trivial Things,I sing—This verse to Caryl, Muse ! is due;This, evn Belinda may vouchsafe to view : B 2 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK Slight is the Subject, but not so the Praise, 5 If She inspire, and He approve, my Lays. Say what strange Motive, Goddess ! coud compelA well-bred Lord t assault a gentle Belle ?Oh say what stranger Cause, yet unexplord,Coud make a gentle Belle reject a Lord? 10 In tasks so bold, can little Men engage,And in soft Bosoms, dwell such mighty Rage ? Sol through white Curtains shot a timrous Ray,And oped those Eyes that must eclipse the Day:Now Lap-dogs give themselves the rouzing Shake, 15 And sleepless Lovers, just at Twelve, awake :Thrice rung the Bell, the Slipper knockd the Ground,And the pressd Watch returnd a silver sound,Belinda still her downy Pillow prest, Her guardian Sylph prolon
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidrapeoflockhe, bookyear1896
