Eighteenth-Century Innovations

Canto II

Paul Schacht

September 21, 2026

¶ 1 Not with more glories, in th’ etherial plain, Leave a comment on line 1 2
¶ 2 The Sun first rises o’er the purpled main, Leave a comment on line 2 0
¶ 3 Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams Leave a comment on line 3 0
¶ 4 Launch’d on the bosom of the silver Thames. Leave a comment on line 4 0
¶ 5 Fair Nymphs, and well-drest Youths around her shone. Leave a comment on line 5 1
¶ 6 But ev’ry eye was fix’d on her alone. Leave a comment on line 6 0
¶ 7 On her white breast a sparkling Cross she wore, Leave a comment on line 7 1
¶ 8 Which Jews might kiss, and Infidels adore. Leave a comment on line 8 0
¶ 9 Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose, Leave a comment on line 9 0
¶ 10 Quick as her eyes, and as unfix’d as those: Leave a comment on line 10 0
¶ 11 Favours to none, to all she smiles extends; Leave a comment on line 11 0
¶ 12 Oft she rejects, but never once offends. Leave a comment on line 12 1
¶ 13 Bright as the sun, her eyes the gazers strike, Leave a comment on line 13 0
¶ 14 And, like the sun, they shine on all alike. Leave a comment on line 14 0
¶ 15 Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride, Leave a comment on line 15 1
¶ 16 Might hide her faults, if Belles had faults to hide: Leave a comment on line 16 1
¶ 17 If to her share some female errors fall, Leave a comment on line 17 0
¶ 18 Look on her face, and you’ll forget ’em all. Leave a comment on line 18 0

¶ 19 This Nymph, to the destruction of mankind, Leave a comment on line 19 0
¶ 20 Nourish’d two Locks, which graceful hung behind Leave a comment on line 20 0
¶ 21 In equal curls, and well conspir’d to deck Leave a comment on line 21 1
¶ 22 With shining ringlets the smooth iv’ry neck. Leave a comment on line 22 0
¶ 23 Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains, Leave a comment on line 23 1
¶ 24 And mighty hearts are held in slender chains. Leave a comment on line 24 2
¶ 25 With hairy springes we the birds betray, Leave a comment on line 25 0
¶ 26 Slight lines of hair surprise the finny prey, Leave a comment on line 26 0
¶ 27 Fair tresses man’s imperial race ensnare, Leave a comment on line 27 0
¶ 28 And beauty draws us with a single hair. Leave a comment on line 28 2

¶ 29 Th’ advent’rous Baron the bright locks admir’d; Leave a comment on line 29 0
¶ 30 He saw, he wish’d, and to the prize aspir’d. Leave a comment on line 30 0
¶ 31 Resolv’d to win, he meditates the way, Leave a comment on line 31 0
¶ 32 By force to ravish, or by fraud betray; Leave a comment on line 32 1
¶ 33 For when success a Lover’s toil attends, Leave a comment on line 33 0
¶ 34 Few ask, if fraud or force attain’d his ends. Leave a comment on line 34 1

¶ 35 For this, ere Phœbus rose, he had implor’d Leave a comment on line 35 0
¶ 36 Propitious heav’n, and ev’ry pow’r ador’d, Leave a comment on line 36 0
¶ 37 But chiefly Love — to Love an Altar built, Leave a comment on line 37 0
¶ 38 Of twelve vast French Romances, neatly gilt. Leave a comment on line 38 0
¶ 39 There lay three garters, half a pair of gloves; Leave a comment on line 39 0
¶ 40 And all the trophies of his former loves; Leave a comment on line 40 0
¶ 41 With tender Billet-doux he lights the pyre, Leave a comment on line 41 1
¶ 42 And breathes three am’rous sighs to raise the fire. Leave a comment on line 42 0
¶ 43 Then prostrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes Leave a comment on line 43 0
¶ 44 Soon to obtain, and long possess the prize: Leave a comment on line 44 0
¶ 45 The pow’rs gave ear, and granted half his pray’r, Leave a comment on line 45 0
¶ 46 The rest, the winds dispers’d in empty air. Leave a comment on line 46 0

¶ 47 But now secure the painted vessel glides, Leave a comment on line 47 0
¶ 48 The sun-beams trembling on the floating tides: Leave a comment on line 48 1
¶ 49 While melting music steals upon the sky, Leave a comment on line 49 0
¶ 50 And soften’d sounds along the waters die; Leave a comment on line 50 0
¶ 51 Smooth flow the waves, the Zephyrs gently play, Leave a comment on line 51 0
¶ 52 Belinda smil’d, and all the world was gay. Leave a comment on line 52 0
¶ 53 All but the Sylph — with careful thoughts opprest, Leave a comment on line 53 0
¶ 54 Th’ impending woe sat heavy on his breast. Leave a comment on line 54 0
¶ 55 He summons strait his Denizens of air; Leave a comment on line 55 0
¶ 56 The lucid squadrons round the sails repair: Leave a comment on line 56 0
¶ 57 Soft o’er the shrouds aërial whispers breathe, Leave a comment on line 57 0
¶ 58 That seem’d but Zephyrs to the train beneath. Leave a comment on line 58 0
¶ 59 Some to the sun their insect-wings unfold, Leave a comment on line 59 0
¶ 60 Waft on the breeze, or sink in clouds of gold; Leave a comment on line 60 0
¶ 61 Transparent forms, too fine for mortal sight, Leave a comment on line 61 0
¶ 62 Their fluid bodies half dissolv’d in light, Leave a comment on line 62 0
¶ 63 Loose to the wind their airy garments flew, Leave a comment on line 63 0
¶ 64 Thin glitt’ring textures of the filmy dew, Leave a comment on line 64 0
¶ 65 Dipt in the richest tincture of the skies, Leave a comment on line 65 0
¶ 66 Where light disports in ever-mingling dyes, Leave a comment on line 66 0
¶ 67 While ev’ry beam new transient colours flings, Leave a comment on line 67 0
¶ 68 Colours that change whene’er they wave their wings. Leave a comment on line 68 0
¶ 69 Amid the circle, on the gilded mast, Leave a comment on line 69 0
¶ 70 Superior by the head, was Ariel plac’d; Leave a comment on line 70 0
¶ 71 His purple pinions op’ning to the sun, Leave a comment on line 71 0
¶ 72 He rais’d his azure wand, and thus begun. Leave a comment on line 72 0

¶ 73 Ye Sylphs and Sylphids, to your chief give ear! Leave a comment on line 73 0
¶ 74 Fays, Fairies, Genii, Elves, and Dæmons, hear! Leave a comment on line 74 0
¶ 75 Ye know the spheres and various tasks assign’d Leave a comment on line 75 0
¶ 76 By laws eternal to th’ aërial kind. Leave a comment on line 76 0
¶ 77 Some in the fields of purest Æther play, Leave a comment on line 77 0
¶ 78 And bask and whiten in the blaze of day. Leave a comment on line 78 0
¶ 79 Some guide the course of wand’ring orbs on high, Leave a comment on line 79 0
¶ 80 Or roll the planets thro’ the boundless sky. Leave a comment on line 80 0
¶ 81 Some less refin’d, beneath the moon’s pale light Leave a comment on line 81 0
¶ 82 Pursue the stars that shoot athwart the night, Leave a comment on line 82 0
¶ 83 Or suck the mists in grosser air below, Leave a comment on line 83 0
¶ 84 Or dip their pinions in the painted bow, Leave a comment on line 84 0
¶ 85 Or brew fierce tempests on the wintry main, Leave a comment on line 85 0
¶ 86 Or o’er the glebe distil the kindly rain. Leave a comment on line 86 0
¶ 87 Others on earth o’er human race preside, Leave a comment on line 87 0
¶ 88 Watch all their ways, and all their actions guide: Leave a comment on line 88 0
¶ 89 Of these the chief the care of Nations own, Leave a comment on line 89 0
¶ 90 And guard with Arms divine the British Throne. Leave a comment on line 90 0

¶ 91 Our humbler province is to tend the Fair, Leave a comment on line 91 0
¶ 92 Not a less pleasing, tho’ less glorious care; Leave a comment on line 92 0
¶ 93 To save the powder from too rude a gale, Leave a comment on line 93 0
¶ 94 Nor let th’ imprison’d-essences exhale; Leave a comment on line 94 0
¶ 95 To draw fresh colours from the vernal flow’rs; Leave a comment on line 95 0
¶ 96 To steal from rainbows e’er they drop in show’rs Leave a comment on line 96 1
¶ 97 A brighter wash; to curl their waving hairs, Leave a comment on line 97 0
¶ 98 Assist their blushes, and inspire their airs; Leave a comment on line 98 0
¶ 99 Nay oft, in dreams, invention we bestow, Leave a comment on line 99 0
¶ 100 To change a Flounce, or add a Furbelow. Leave a comment on line 100 0

¶ 101 This day, black Omens threat the brightest Fair, Leave a comment on line 101 0
¶ 102 That e’er deserv’d a watchful spirit’s care; Leave a comment on line 102 0
¶ 103 Some dire disaster, or by force, or slight; Leave a comment on line 103 0
¶ 104 But what, or where, the fates have wrapt in night. Leave a comment on line 104 0
¶ 105 Whether the nymph shall break Diana’s law, Leave a comment on line 105 0
¶ 106 Or some frail China jar receive a flaw; Leave a comment on line 106 0
¶ 107 Or stain her honour or her new brocade; Leave a comment on line 107 0
¶ 108 Forget her pray’rs, or miss a masquerade; Leave a comment on line 108 1
¶ 109 Or lose her heart, or necklace, at a ball; Leave a comment on line 109 0
¶ 110 Or whether Heav’n has doom’d that Shock must fall. Leave a comment on line 110 1
¶ 111 Haste, then, ye spirits! to your charge repair: Leave a comment on line 111 0
¶ 112 The flutt’ring fan be Zephyretta’s care; Leave a comment on line 112 0
¶ 113 The drops to thee, Brillante, we consign; Leave a comment on line 113 0
¶ 114 And, Momentilla, let the watch be thine; Leave a comment on line 114 0
¶ 115 Do thou, Crispissa, tend her fav’rite Lock; Leave a comment on line 115 1
¶ 116 Ariel himself shall be the guard of Shock. Leave a comment on line 116 0

¶ 117 To fifty chosen Sylphs, of special note, Leave a comment on line 117 1
¶ 118 We trust th’ important charge, the Petticoat: Leave a comment on line 118 1
¶ 119 Oft have we known that seven-fold fence to fail, Leave a comment on line 119 0
¶ 120 Tho’ stiff with hoops, and arm’d with ribs of whale; Leave a comment on line 120 0
¶ 121 Form a strong line about the silver bound, Leave a comment on line 121 0
¶ 122 And guard the wide circumference around. Leave a comment on line 122 0

¶ 123 Whatever spirit, careless of his charge, Leave a comment on line 123 0
¶ 124 His post neglects, or leaves the fair at large, Leave a comment on line 124 0
¶ 125 Shall feel sharp vengeance soon o’ertake his sins, Leave a comment on line 125 0
¶ 126 Be stopp’d in vials, or transfix’d with pins; Leave a comment on line 126 2
¶ 127 Or plung’d in lakes of bitter washes lie, Leave a comment on line 127 0
¶ 128 Or wedg’d whole ages in a bodkin’s eye: Leave a comment on line 128 0
¶ 129 Gums and Pomatums shall his flight restrain, Leave a comment on line 129 0
¶ 130 While clogg’d he beats his silken wings in vain; Leave a comment on line 130 0
¶ 131 Or Alum styptics with contracting pow’r Leave a comment on line 131 0
¶ 132 Shrink his thin essence like a rivel’d flow’r: Leave a comment on line 132 0
¶ 133 Or, as Ixion fix’d, the wretch shall feel Leave a comment on line 133 0
¶ 134 The giddy motion of the whirling Mill, Leave a comment on line 134 0
¶ 135 In fumes of burning Chocolate shall glow, Leave a comment on line 135 0
¶ 136 And tremble at the sea that froths below! Leave a comment on line 136 0

¶ 137 He spoke; the spirits from the sails descend; Leave a comment on line 137 1
¶ 138 Some, orb in orb, around the nymph extend; Leave a comment on line 138 0
¶ 139 Some thrid the mazy ringlets of her hair; Leave a comment on line 139 0
¶ 140 Some hang upon the pendants of her ear: Leave a comment on line 140 0
¶ 141 With beating hearts the dire event they wait, Leave a comment on line 141 0
¶ 142 Anxious, and trembling for the birth of Fate. Leave a comment on line 142 0