BELINDA. NOT with more glories, in th'etherial plain, Than, iffuing forth, the rival of his beams But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone. On her white breast a sparkling Cross she wore, Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all. This Nymph, to the deftruction of mankind, Nourish'd two Locks, which graceful hung behind In equal curls, and well confpir'd to deck With fhining ringlets the smooth iv'ry neck. Love in these labyrinths his flaves detains, And mighty hearts are held in flender chains. With hairy springes we the birds betray, Slight lines of hair furprise the finny prey: Fair 1 Fair treffes man's imperial race insnare, IBID. P.115. ARIEL'S ADDRESS. AMID the circle on the gilded mast, Ye Sylphs, and Sylphids, to your Chief give ear, Fays, Fairies, Genii, Elves, and Demons, hear! Ye know the Spheres, and various tasks affign'd By laws eternal to th' aërial kind. Some in the fields of pureft æther play, And bask, and whiten in the blaze of day: Some guide the course of wand'ring orbs on high, Or roll the planets thro' the boundless sky: Some, lefs refin'd, beneath the moon's pale light Pursue the stars that shoot athwart the night, Or fuck the mifts, in groffer air below, Or dip their pinions in the painted Bow, Or brew fierce tempefts on the wintry main, Or o'er the glebe diftil the kindly rain. Others on earth o'er human race prefide, Watch all their ways, and all their actions guide. Of these the chief the care of Nations own, And guard with arms divine the British Throne. Our humbler province is to tend the Fair, Not a lefs pleafing, tho' less glorious care; To To fave the powder from too rude a gale, Nor let th' imprifon'd effences exhale; To draw fresh colours from the vernal flow'rs; This day, black Omens threat the brightest Fair But what, or where, the Fates have wrapp'd in night. Or whether Heav'n has doom'd that Shock muft fall. To fifty chofen Sylphs, of fpecial note, Whatever Whatever Spirit, carelefs of his charge, His poft neglects, or leaves the Fair at large, He fpoke; the Spirits from the fails descend: Some, orb in orb, around the Nymph extend; Some thrid the mazy ringlets of her hair; Some hang upon the pendants of her ear: With beating hearts the dire event they wait, Anxious, and trembling for the birth of Fate, OM BR E. IBID. P. 117. BELINDA now, whom thirst of fame invites, And fwells her breast with conquefts yet to come. First Ariel perch'd upon a Matadore, Then each according to the rank he bore; Behold, four Kings in majesty rever'd, With hoary whiskers and a forky beard ; And four fair Queens, whofe hands fuftain a flow'r, Th' expreffive emblem of their fofter pow'r; Four Knaves in garbs fuccinct, a trusty band; Caps on their heads, and halberts in their hand; And party-colour'd troops, a fhining train, Drawn 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. Now move to war her fable Matadores, Led off two captive trumps, and swept the board. Ev'n |