Airy ones; and the Character of Belinda, as it is now manag'd, resembles 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 so Uncensured as You have done. But let its Fortune be what it will, mine is happy enough, to have given me this Occafion of affuring You that I am, with the trueft Efteem.

Madam,

Your Moft Obedient

Humble Servant,

A. POPE

I fing.

CANTO 1.

HAT dire Offence from am'rous

Causes fprings,

What mighty Quarrels rife from

trivial Things,

This Verfe to C---, Mufe! is due,

This, ev'n Belinda may vouchfafe to view:
Slight is the Subject, but not fo the Praise,
If She inspire, and He approve my Lays.

Say

Say what strange Motive, Goddess! cou'd compel A well-bred Lord t'affault a gentle Belle?

Oh fay what stranger Caufe, yet unexplor'd,
Cou'd make a gentle Belle reject a Lord?
And dwells fuch Rage in softest Bosoms then?
And lodge fuch daring Souls in Little Men?

Sol thro' white Curtains did his Beams display, And op'd thofe Eyes which brighter shine than they; Now Shock had given himself the rowsing shake, And Nymphs prepar'd their Chocolate to take; Thrice the wrought Slipper knock'd against the Ground,

And striking Watches the tenth Hour refound.
Belinda ftill her downy Pillow preft,

Her Guardian Sylph prolong'd the balmy rest.
'Twas he had fummon'd to her filent 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 caus'd her Cheek to glow)

Seem'd

Seem'd to her Ear his winning Lips to lay,
And thus in Whispers faid, or feem'd to say.

Fairest of Mortals, thou diftinguifh'd Care
Of thousand bright Inhabitants of Air!
If e'er one Vifion touch'd thy infant Thought,
Of all the Nurse and all the Priest have taught,
Of airy Elves by Moonlight Shadows feen,
The filver Token, and the Circled Green,
Or Virgins vifited by Angel-Pow'rs,

[Flow'rs,

With Golden Crowns and Wreaths of heav'nly
Hear and believe! thy own Importance know,
Nor bound thy narrow Views to things below.
Some fecret Truths from Learned Pride conceal'd,
To Maids alone and Children are reveal'd:
What tho' no Credit doubting Wits may give?
The Fair and Innocent fhall still believe.
Know then, unnumber'd Spirits round thee fly,
The light Militia of the lower Sky;
These tho' unfeen, are ever on the Wing,
Hang o'er the Box, and hover round the Ring:

Think