Poetry. Alexander Pope

The imperial consort of the crown of Spades.

       The Club's black tyrant first her victim died,

       Spite of his haughty mien, and barbarous pride: 70

       What boots the regal circle on his head,

       His giant limbs in state unwieldy spread;

       That long behind he trails his pompous robe,

       And, of all monarchs, only grasps the globe?

       The Baron now his Diamonds pours apace;

       The embroider'd King who shows but half his face,

       And his refulgent Queen, with powers combined,

       Of broken troops an easy conquest find.

       Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild disorder seen,

       With throngs promiscuous strew the level green. 80

       Thus when dispersed a routed army runs,

       Of Asia's troops, and Afric's sable sons,

       With like confusion different nations fly,

       Of various habit and of various dye;

       The pierced battalions disunited fall

       In heaps on heaps; one fate o'erwhelms them all.

       The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts,

       And wins (oh shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts.

       At this, the blood the virgin's cheek forsook,

       A livid paleness spreads o'er all her look; 90

       She sees, and trembles at the approaching ill,

       Just in the jaws of ruin, and Codille.

       And now, (as oft in some distemper'd state)

       On one nice trick depends the general fate,

       An Ace of Hearts steps forth: the King unseen

       Lurk'd in her hand, and mourn'd his captive Queen:

       He springs to vengeance with an eager pace,

       And falls like thunder on the prostrate Ace.

       The nymph, exulting, fills with shouts the sky;

       The walls, the woods, and long canals reply. 100

       O thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate,

       Too soon dejected, and too soon elate.

       Sudden these honours shall be snatch'd away,

       And cursed for ever this victorious day.

       For lo! the board with cups and spoons is crown'd,

       The berries crackle, and the mill turns round;

       On shining altars of Japan they raise

       The silver lamp; the fiery spirits blaze:

       From silver spouts the grateful liquors glide,

       While China's earth receives the smoking tide: 110

       At once they gratify their scent and taste,

       And frequent cups prolong the rich repast.

       Straight hover round the fair her airy band;

       Some, as she sipp'd, the fuming liquor fann'd,

       Some o'er her lap their careful plumes display'd,

       Trembling, and conscious of the rich brocade.

       Coffee (which makes the politician wise,

       And see through all things with his half-shut eyes)

       Sent up in vapours to the Baron's brain

       New stratagems, the radiant lock to gain. 120

       Ah, cease, rash youth! desist ere 'tis too late,

       Fear the just gods, and think of Scylla's fate!

       Changed to a bird, and sent to flit in air,

       She dearly pays for Nisus' injured hair!

       But when to mischief mortals bend their will,

       How soon they find fit instruments of ill!

       Just then, Clarissa drew with tempting grace

       A two-edged weapon from her shining case:

       So ladies in romance assist their knight,

       Present the spear, and arm him for the fight, 130

       He takes the gift with reverence, and extends

       The little engine on his fingers' ends:

       This just behind Belinda's neck he spread,

       As o'er the fragrant steams she bends her head.

       Swift to the lock a thousand sprites repair,

       A thousand wings, by turns, blow back the hair;

       And thrice they twitch'd the diamond in her ear;

       Thrice she look'd back, and thrice the foe drew near.

       Just in that instant, anxious Ariel sought

       The close recesses of the virgin's thought; 140

       As on the nosegay in her breast reclined,

       He watch'd the ideas rising in her mind,

       Sudden he view'd, in spite of all her art,

       An earthly lover lurking at her heart.

       Amazed, confused, he found his power expired,

       Resign'd to fate, and with a sigh retired.

       The Peer now spreads the glittering forfex wide,

       To inclose the lock; now joins it to divide.

       Even then, before the fatal engine closed,

       A wretched Sylph too fondly interposed; 150

       Fate urged the shears, and cut the Sylph in twain,

       (But airy substance soon unites again)

       The meeting points the sacred hair dissever

       From the fair head, for ever, and for ever!

       Then flash'd the living lightning from her eyes,

       And screams of horror rend the affrighted skies.

       Not louder shrieks to pitying heaven are cast,

       When husbands, or when lapdogs breathe their last;

       Or when rich China vessels, fallen from high,

       In glittering dust and painted fragments lie! 160

       'Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine,

       (The victor cried) the glorious prize is mine!

       While fish in streams, or birds delight in air,

       Or in a coach-and-six the British fair,

       As long as Atalantis32 shall be read, Or the small pillow grace a lady's bed, While visits shall be paid on solemn days, When numerous wax-lights in bright order blaze, While nymphs take treats, or assignations give, So long my honour, name, and praise shall live!' 170 What Time would spare, from steel receives its date, And monuments, like men, submit to fate! Steel could the labour of the gods destroy, And strike to dust the imperial towers of Troy; Steel could the works of mortal pride confound, And hew triumphal arches to the ground. What wonder then, fair nymph! thy hairs should feel, The conquering force of unresisted steel?

VARIATIONS.

       Table of Contents

      VER. 1. The first edition continues from this line to ver. 24 of this

       canto.

       VER. 12. Originally in the first edition:—

       In various talk the