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 called 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 Demons 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 passages 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 should pass through the world half so uncensured 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, Nolueram, Belinda, tuos violare capillos; CANTO I. HAT dire offence from amorous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from I sing this verse to Caryll, Muse! is due: 5 Say what strange motive, goddess! could compel A well-bred lord to assault a gentle belle ? IO 1 The first sketch of this poem was written in less than a fortnight's time in 1711, in two cantos, and so printed in a miscellany without the name of the author. The machines were not inserted till a year after, when he published it, and annexed the dedication.-P. The original poem was published in 1712, and the revised form not till 1714. For an account of the origin of this poem see the Memoir, p. xiv. In tasks so bold, can little men engage, ray, And oped those eyes that must eclipse the day : Now lapdogs give themselves the rousing shake, And sleepless lovers, just at twelve, awake: 16 Thrice rung the bell, the slipper knocked the ground, 21 25 And the pressed watch returned a silver sound. 31 34 Hear and believe! thy own importance know, Nor bound thy narrow views to things below. Some secret truths, from learned pride concealed, To maids alone and children are revealed: 1 All the verses from hence to the end of this Canto were added afterwards.-P. 2 Alluding to the custom of wearing exceptionally fine dresses at court on the birthdays of any of the royal family. 40 What though no credit doubting wits may give ? 45 50 Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled, That all her vanities at once are dead; And though she plays no more, o'erlooks the cards. 55 60 Her joy in gilded chariots, when alive,1 65 "Know further yet: whoever fair and chaste Rejects mankind, is by some sylph embraced : For spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease 1 66 Quæ gratia currûm Armorumque fuit vivis, quæ cura nitentes Pascere equos, eadem sequitur tellure repostos." Virg. Æn. vi.-P. -1 Assume what sexes and what shapes they please. The glance by day, the whisper in the dark, -4 79 For life predestined to the gnome's embrace. Those swell their prospects and exalt their pride, When offers are disdained and love denied: Then gay ideas crowd the vacant brain, While poors and dukes, and all their sweeping train, "Tis those that early taint the female soul, 90 "Oft, when the world imagine women stray, The Sylphs through mystic mazes guide their way, Through all the giddy circle they pursue, stand, If gentle Damon did not squeeze her hand? 95 |