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BELINDA.

NOT with more glories, in th'etherial plain,
The Sun firft rifes o'er the purpled main,

Than, iffuing forth, the rival of his beams
Launch'd on the bofom of the filver'd Thames.
Fair Nymphs, and well-drefs'd Youths, around her
fhone;

But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone.

On her white breast a sparkling Cross she wore,
Which Jews might kifs, and Infidels adore.
Her lively looks a fprightly mind disclose,
Quick as her eyes, and as unfix'd as those :
Favours to none, to all fhe fmiles extends;
Oft fhe rejects, but never once offends.
Bright as the Sun, her eyes the gazers strike,
And, like the Sun, they shine on all alike.
Yet graceful eafe, and sweetness void of pride,
Might hide her faults, if Belles had faults to hide :
If to her share some female errors fall,

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,
And Beauty draws us with a fingle hair.

IBID. P.115.

ARIEL'S ADDRESS.

AMID the circle on the gilded mast,
Superior by the head, was Ariel plac'd;
His purple pinions op'ning to the fun,
He rais'd his azure wand, and thus begun.

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;
To steal from rainbows, ere they drop in show'rs,
A brighter wafh; to curl their waving hairs,
Affift their blushes, and infpire their airs;
Nay oft, in dreams, invention we bestow,
To change a Flounce, or add a Furbelow.

This day, black Omens threat the brightest Fair
That e'er deferv'd a watchful Spirit's care;
Some dire difafter, or by force, or flight;

But what, or where, the Fates have wrapp'd in night.
Whether the Nymph fhall break Diana's law,
Or fome frail China-jar receive a flaw;
Or ftain her honour, or her new brocade;
Forget her pray'rs, or miss a masquerade;
Or lofe her heart, or necklace at a ball;

Or whether Heav'n has doom'd that Shock muft fall.
Hafte then, ye Spirits! to your charge repair:
The flutt'ring fan be Zephyretta's care;
The drops to thee, Brillante, we confign;
And, Momentilla, let the watch be thine;
Do thou, Crifpiffa, tend her fav'rite Lock;
Ariel himself shall be the guard of Shock.

To fifty chofen Sylphs, of fpecial note,
We trust th' important charge, the Petticoat:
Oft have we known that seven-fold fence to fail,
Tho' ftiff with hoops, and arm'd with ribs of whale:
Form a strong line about the filver bound,
And guard the wide circumference around.

Whatever

Whatever Spirit, carelefs of his charge,

His poft neglects, or leaves the Fair at large,
Shall feel sharp vengeance foon o'ertake his fins,
Be ftopt in viols, or transfix'd with pins;
Or plung'd in lakes of bitter washes lie,
Or wedg'd whole ages in a bodkin's eye:
Gums and Pomatums fhall his flight reftrain,
While clogg'd he beats his filken wings in vain;
Or Alum ftyptics with contracting pow'r
Shrink his thin effence like a fhrivel'd flow'r:
Or, as Ixion fix'd, the wretch fhall feel
The giddy motion of the whirling Mill,
In fumes of burning Chocolate shall glow,
And tremble at the fea that froths below!

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,
Burns to encounter two advent'rous Knights,
At Ombre fingly to decide their doom;

And fwells her breast with conquefts yet to come.
Strait the three bands prepare in arms to join,
Each band the number of the facred Nine.
Soon as the spreads her hand, the aërial guard
Defcend, and fit on each important card :

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First Ariel perch'd upon a Matadore,

Then each according to the rank he bore;
For Sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race,
Are, as when Women, wond'rous fond of place.

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,
In fhow like leaders of the fwarthy Moors.
Spadilio firft, unconquerable Lord!

Led off two captive trumps, and swept the board.
As many more Manillio forc'd to yield,'
And march'd a victor from the verdant field.
Him Bafto follow'd, but his fate more hard
Gain'd but one trump, and one Plebeian card.
With his broad fabre next, a chief in years,
The hoary Majefty of Spades appears,
Puts forth one manly leg, to fight reveal'd,
The reft, his many-colour'd robe conceal'd.
The rebel Knave, who dares his prince engage,
Proves the just victim of his royal rage.

Ev'n

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