X

THE

RAPE of the LOCK.

C

[Tow'rs,

Where Thames with Pride furveys his rifing There ftands a Structure of Majeftick Fame,

[Name.

Which from the neighb'ring Hampton takes it's Here Britain's Statefmen oft the Fall foredoom.. Of Foreign Tyrants, and of Nymphs at home; Here Thou, great Anna! whom three Realms obey, Doft fometimes Counsel take,and fometimes Tea.

Hither

1

Hither the Heroes and the Nymphs refort,
To tafte a while the Pleasures of a Court;
In various Talk th' inftructive Hours they past,
Who gave a Ball, or paid the Vifit laft:
One speaks the Glory of the British Queen,
And one describes a charming Indian Screen;
A third interprets Motions, Looks, and Eyes;
At ev'ry Word a Reputation dies...

Snaff, or the Fan, fupply cach Pause of Chat,
With finging, laughing, ogling, and all that.

Mean while declining from the Noon of Day,
The Sun obliquely fhoots his burning Ray;
The hungry Judges foon the Sentence fign,
And Wretches hang that Jury-men may Dine;
The Merchant from th' Exchange returns in Peace,
And the long Labours of the Toilette cease.

Belinda now, whom Thirft of Fame invites,
Burns to encounter two advent'rous Knights,
At Ombre fingly to decide their Doom;

And fwells her Breaft with Conquefts yet to come.

Strait

Strait the three Bands prepare in Arms to join,
Each Band the number of the Sacred Nine..
Soon as the fpreads her Hand, th' Aerial Guard
Defcend, and fit on each important Card:
First Ariel perch'd upon a Matadore,

Then each according to the Rank they bore;
For Sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient Race,
Are, as when Women, wondrous fond of Place.

Behold, four Kings in Majefty rever'd,

With hoary Whiskers and a forky Beard:

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And four fair Queens whofe Hands fustain a Flow'r,
Th' expreffive Emblem of their fofter Pow'r:

Four Knaves in Garbs fuccinct, a trusty Band,
Caps on their Heads, and Halberds in their Hand;
And particolour'd Troops, a fhining Train,

Draw forth to Combat on the Velvet Plain,

The skilful Nymph reviews her Force with Care; Let Spades be Trumps, fhe faid, and Trumps they were.