TO Mrs. Arabella Fermor. MADAM, I' Tet T will be in vain to deny that 1 have fome regard for this piece, fince I dedicate it to you. you may bear me witness, it was intended only to divert a few young Ladies who have good fenfe and good bumour enough to laugh not only at their fex's little unguarded follies, but at their own. But as it was communicated with the air of a fecret, it foon found its way into the world. An imper. fect copy having been offer'd to a bookfeller, you had the good nature for my fake to confent to the publication of one more correct: This I was forced to before I had executed half my defign, for the machinery was entirely wanting to compleat it. The The machinery, Madam, is a term invented by the critics, to fignify that part which the deities, angels, or demons, are made to act in a poem: For the ancient poets are in one respect like many modern ladies; let an action be never fo trivial in it felf, they always make it appear of the utmost importance. Thefe machines I determined to raife on a very new and odd foundation, the Roficrufian doctrine of Spirits. I know how difagreeable it is to make use of hard words before a lady; but 'tis so much the concern of a poet to have his works underflood, and particularly by your fex, that you must give me leave to explain two or three difficult terms. The Roficrucians are a people I muft 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 fize is fo like a novel, that many of the fair fex have read read it for one by mistake. According to thefe gentlemen, the four elements are inhabited by Spirits, which they call Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders. The Gnomes, or Damons of earth, delight in mifchief; but the Sylphs, whofe habitation is in the air, are the beft condition'd creatures imaginable. For they fay, any mortals may enjoy the most intimate familiarities with thefe gentle spirits, upon a condition very easy to all true adepts, an inviolate prefervation of chastity. As to the following Canto's, all the paffages 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 name with reverence.) The human perfons are as fictitious as the airy ones; and the character of Belinda, as it is now manag'd, refembles you in nothing but in beauty. • If this poem had as many graces as there are in your perfon, or in your mind, yet I could never hope it should pass thro' the world half fo uncenfured as you have done. But let its fortune be what it will, mine is happy enough, to have given me this occafion of alluring you that I am, with the trueft efteem, Madam, Your most obedient, Humble Servant, A. Pope. The -This verfe to C Mufe, is due: 1 fing- Slight is the fubject, but not fo the praise, If the infpire, and he approve my lays. Say what ftrange motive, Goddefs! could compc! A well-bred Lord t'affault a gentle Belle? Oh fay what ftranger caufe, yet unexplor'd, Cou'd make a gentle Belle reject a Lord-? |