Eighteenth-Century Innovations

Canto IV

Paul Schacht

September 21, 2026

¶ 1 But anxious cares the pensive nymph oppress’d, Leave a comment on line 1 2
¶ 2 And secret passions labour’d in her breast. Leave a comment on line 2 0
¶ 3 Not youthful kings in battle seiz’d alive, Leave a comment on line 3 0
¶ 4 Not scornful virgins who their charms survive, Leave a comment on line 4 1
¶ 5 Not ardent lovers robb’d of all their bliss, Leave a comment on line 5 0
¶ 6 Not ancient ladies when refus’d a kiss, Leave a comment on line 6 0
¶ 7 Not tyrants fierce that unrepenting die, Leave a comment on line 7 0
¶ 8 Not Cynthia when her manteau’s pinn’d awry, Leave a comment on line 8 0
¶ 9 E’er felt such rage, resentment, and despair, Leave a comment on line 9 0
¶ 10 As thou, sad Virgin! for thy ravish’d Hair. Leave a comment on line 10 1

¶ 11 For, that sad moment, when the Sylphs withdrew Leave a comment on line 11 0
¶ 12 And Ariel weeping from Belinda flew, Leave a comment on line 12 0
¶ 13 Umbriel, a dusky, melancholy sprite, Leave a comment on line 13 0
¶ 14 As ever sully’d the fair face of light, Leave a comment on line 14 0
¶ 15 Down to the central earth, his proper scene, Leave a comment on line 15 0
¶ 16 Repair’d to search the gloomy Cave of Spleen. Leave a comment on line 16 2

¶ 17 Swift on his sooty pinions flits the Gnome, Leave a comment on line 17 0
¶ 18 And in a vapour reach’d the dismal dome. Leave a comment on line 18 0
¶ 19 No cheerful breeze this sullen region knows, Leave a comment on line 19 0
¶ 20 The dreaded East is all the wind that blows. Leave a comment on line 20 0
¶ 21 Here in a grotto, shelter’d close from air, Leave a comment on line 21 1
¶ 22 And screen’d in shades from day’s detested glare, Leave a comment on line 22 0
¶ 23 She sighs for ever on her pensive bed, Leave a comment on line 23 0
¶ 24 Pain at her side, and Megrim at her head. Leave a comment on line 24 0

¶ 25 Two handmaids wait the throne: alike in place, Leave a comment on line 25 0
¶ 26 But diff’ring far in figure and in face. Leave a comment on line 26 0
¶ 27 Here stood Ill-nature like an ancient maid, Leave a comment on line 27 0
¶ 28 Her wrinkled form in black and white array’d; Leave a comment on line 28 0
¶ 29 With store of pray’rs, for mornings, nights, and noons, Leave a comment on line 29 0
¶ 30 Her hand is fill’d; her bosom with lampoons. Leave a comment on line 30 0
¶ 31 There Affectation, with a sickly mien, Leave a comment on line 31 0
¶ 32 Shows in her cheek the roses of eighteen, Leave a comment on line 32 0
¶ 33 Practis’d to lisp, and hang the head aside. Leave a comment on line 33 0
¶ 34 Faints into airs, and languishes with pride, Leave a comment on line 34 0
¶ 35 On the rich quilt sinks with becoming woe, Leave a comment on line 35 1
¶ 36 Wrapt in a gown, for sickness, and for show. Leave a comment on line 36 1
¶ 37 The fair ones feel such maladies as these, Leave a comment on line 37 0
¶ 38 When each new night-dress gives a new disease. Leave a comment on line 38 2

¶ 39 A constant Vapour o’er the palace flies; Leave a comment on line 39 0
¶ 40 Strange phantoms rising as the mists arise; Leave a comment on line 40 0
¶ 41 Dreadful, as hermit’s dreams in haunted shades, Leave a comment on line 41 0
¶ 42 Or bright, as visions of expiring maids. Leave a comment on line 42 0
¶ 43 Now glaring fiends, and snakes on rolling spires, Leave a comment on line 43 0
¶ 44 Pale spectres, gaping tombs, and purple fires: Leave a comment on line 44 0
¶ 45 Now lakes of liquid gold, Elysian scenes, Leave a comment on line 45 0
¶ 46 And crystal domes, and angels in machines. Leave a comment on line 46 0

¶ 47 Unnumber’d throngs on every side are seen, Leave a comment on line 47 0
¶ 48 Of bodies chang’d to various forms by Spleen. Leave a comment on line 48 0
¶ 49 Here living Tea-pots stand, one arm held out, Leave a comment on line 49 0
¶ 50 One bent; the handle this, and that the spout: Leave a comment on line 50 0
¶ 51 A Pipkin there, like Homer’s Tripod walks; Leave a comment on line 51 0
¶ 52 Here sighs a Jar, and there a Goose-pie talks; Leave a comment on line 52 0
¶ 53 Men prove with child, as pow’rful fancy works, Leave a comment on line 53 0
¶ 54 And maids turn’d bottles, call aloud for corks. Leave a comment on line 54 0

¶ 55 Safe past the Gnome thro’ this fantastic band, Leave a comment on line 55 0
¶ 56 A branch of healing Spleenwort in his hand. Leave a comment on line 56 0
¶ 57 Then thus address’d the pow’r: “Hail, wayward Queen! Leave a comment on line 57 0
¶ 58 Who rule the sex to fifty from fifteen: Leave a comment on line 58 0
¶ 59 Parent of vapours and of female wit, Leave a comment on line 59 0
¶ 60 Who give th’ hysteric, or poetic fit, Leave a comment on line 60 0
¶ 61 On various tempers act by various ways, Leave a comment on line 61 0
¶ 62 Make some take physic, others scribble plays; Leave a comment on line 62 0
¶ 63 Who cause the proud their visits to delay, Leave a comment on line 63 0
¶ 64 And send the godly in a pet to pray. Leave a comment on line 64 1
¶ 65 A nymph there is, that all thy pow’r disdains, Leave a comment on line 65 0
¶ 66 And thousands more in equal mirth maintains. Leave a comment on line 66 0
¶ 67 But oh! if e’er thy Gnome could spoil a grace, Leave a comment on line 67 0
¶ 68 Or raise a pimple on a beauteous face, Leave a comment on line 68 1
¶ 69 Like Citron-waters matrons cheeks inflame, Leave a comment on line 69 0
¶ 70 Or change complexions at a losing game; Leave a comment on line 70 0
¶ 71 If e’er with airy horns I planted heads, Leave a comment on line 71 0
¶ 72 Or rumpled petticoats, or tumbled beds, Leave a comment on line 72 0
¶ 73 Or caus’d suspicion when no soul was rude, Leave a comment on line 73 0
¶ 74 Or discompos’d the head-dress of a Prude, Leave a comment on line 74 1
¶ 75 Or e’er to costive lap-dog gave disease, Leave a comment on line 75 0
¶ 76 Which not the tears of brightest eyes could ease: Leave a comment on line 76 0
¶ 77 Hear me, and touch Belinda with chagrin, Leave a comment on line 77 0
¶ 78 That single act gives half the world the spleen.” Leave a comment on line 78 1

¶ 79 The Goddess with a discontented air Leave a comment on line 79 0
¶ 80 Seems to reject him, tho’ she grants his pray’r. Leave a comment on line 80 0
¶ 81 A wond’rous Bag with both her hands she binds, Leave a comment on line 81 0
¶ 82 Like that where once Ulysses held the winds; Leave a comment on line 82 0
¶ 83 There she collects the force of female lungs, Leave a comment on line 83 1
¶ 84 Sighs, sobs, and passions, and the war of tongues. Leave a comment on line 84 0
¶ 85 A Vial next she fills with fainting fears, Leave a comment on line 85 0
¶ 86 Soft sorrows, melting griefs, and flowing tears. Leave a comment on line 86 1
¶ 87 The Gnome rejoicing bears her gifts away, Leave a comment on line 87 0
¶ 88 Spreads his black wings, and slowly mounts to day. Leave a comment on line 88 0

¶ 89 Sunk in Thalestris’ arms the nymph he found, Leave a comment on line 89 0
¶ 90 Her eyes dejected and her hair unbound. Leave a comment on line 90 0
¶ 91 Full o’er their heads the swelling bag he rent, Leave a comment on line 91 0
¶ 92 And all the Furies issu’d at the vent. Leave a comment on line 92 0
¶ 93 Belinda burns with more than mortal ire, Leave a comment on line 93 0
¶ 94 And fierce Thalestris fans the rising fire. Leave a comment on line 94 0
¶ 95 “O wretched maid!” she spread her hands, and cry’d, Leave a comment on line 95 0
¶ 96 (While Hampton’s echoes, “Wretched maid!” reply’d) Leave a comment on line 96 0
¶ 97 “Was it for this you took such constant care Leave a comment on line 97 0
¶ 98 The bodkin, comb, and essence to prepare? Leave a comment on line 98 0
¶ 99 For this your locks in paper durance bound, Leave a comment on line 99 0
¶ 100 For this with tort’ring irons wreath’d around? Leave a comment on line 100 0
¶ 101 For this with fillets strain’d your tender head, Leave a comment on line 101 0
¶ 102 And bravely bore the double loads of lead? Leave a comment on line 102 0
¶ 103 Gods! shall the ravisher display your hair, Leave a comment on line 103 0
¶ 104 While the Fops envy, and the Ladies stare! Leave a comment on line 104 0
¶ 105 Honour forbid! at whose unrivall’d shrine Leave a comment on line 105 0
¶ 106 Ease, pleasure, virtue, all our sex resign. Leave a comment on line 106 0
¶ 107 Methinks already I your tears survey, Leave a comment on line 107 0
¶ 108 Already hear the horrid things they say, Leave a comment on line 108 0
¶ 109 Already see you a degraded toast, Leave a comment on line 109 0
¶ 110 And all your honour in a whisper lost! Leave a comment on line 110 2
¶ 111 How shall I, then, your helpless fame defend? Leave a comment on line 111 0
¶ 112 ’Twill then be infamy to seem your friend! Leave a comment on line 112 0
¶ 113 And shall this prize, th’ inestimable prize, Leave a comment on line 113 0
¶ 114 Expos’d thro’ crystal to the gazing eyes, Leave a comment on line 114 0
¶ 115 And heighten’d by the diamond’s circling rays, Leave a comment on line 115 0
¶ 116 On that rapacious hand for ever blaze? Leave a comment on line 116 0
¶ 117 Sooner shall grass in Hyde-park Circus grow, Leave a comment on line 117 0
¶ 118 And wits take lodgings in the sound of Bow; Leave a comment on line 118 0
¶ 119 Sooner let earth, air, sea, to Chaos fall, Leave a comment on line 119 0
¶ 120 Men, monkeys, lap-dogs, parrots, perish all!” Leave a comment on line 120 0

¶ 121 She said; then raging to Sir Plume repairs, Leave a comment on line 121 1
¶ 122 And bids her Beau demand the precious hairs; Leave a comment on line 122 1
¶ 123 (Sir Plume of amber snuff-box justly vain, Leave a comment on line 123 0
¶ 124 And the nice conduct of a clouded cane) Leave a comment on line 124 0
¶ 125 With earnest eyes, and round unthinking face, Leave a comment on line 125 0
¶ 126 He first the snuff-box open’d, then the case, Leave a comment on line 126 0
¶ 127 And thus broke out — “My Lord, why, what the devil? Leave a comment on line 127 0
¶ 128 “Z — ds! damn the lock! ‘fore Gad, you must be civil! Leave a comment on line 128 0
¶ 129 Plague on’t! ’tis past a jest — nay prithee, pox! Leave a comment on line 129 0
¶ 130 Give her the hair” — he spoke, and rapp’d his box. Leave a comment on line 130 0

¶ 131 “It grieves me much” (reply’d the Peer again) Leave a comment on line 131 0
¶ 132 “Who speaks so well should ever speak in vain. Leave a comment on line 132 0
¶ 133 But by this Lock, this sacred Lock I swear, Leave a comment on line 133 0
¶ 134 (Which never more shall join its parted hair; Leave a comment on line 134 0
¶ 135 Which never more its honours shall renew, Leave a comment on line 135 0
¶ 136 Clipp’d from the lovely head where late it grew) Leave a comment on line 136 0
¶ 137 That while my nostrils draw the vital air, Leave a comment on line 137 0
¶ 138 This hand, which won it, shall for ever wear.” Leave a comment on line 138 0
¶ 139 He spoke, and speaking, in proud triumph spread Leave a comment on line 139 0
¶ 140 The long-contended honours of her head. Leave a comment on line 140 0

¶ 141 But Umbriel, hateful Gnome! forbears not so; Leave a comment on line 141 0
¶ 142 He breaks the Vial whence the sorrows flow. Leave a comment on line 142 0
¶ 143 Then see! the nymph in beauteous grief appears, Leave a comment on line 143 0
¶ 144 Her eyes half-languishing, half-drown’d in tears; Leave a comment on line 144 0
¶ 145 On her heav’d bosom hung her drooping head, Leave a comment on line 145 0
¶ 146 Which, with a sigh, she rais’d; and thus she said. Leave a comment on line 146 0
¶ 147 “For ever curs’d be this detested day, Leave a comment on line 147 0
¶ 148 Which snatch’d my best, my fav’rite curl away! Leave a comment on line 148 1
¶ 149 Happy! ah ten times happy had I been, Leave a comment on line 149 0
¶ 150 If Hampton-Court these eyes had never seen! Leave a comment on line 150 0
¶ 151 Yet am not I the first mistaken maid, Leave a comment on line 151 0
¶ 152 By love of Courts to num’rous ills betray’d. Leave a comment on line 152 0
¶ 153 Oh had I rather un-admir’d remain’d Leave a comment on line 153 0
¶ 154 In some lone isle, or distant Northern land; Leave a comment on line 154 0
¶ 155 Where the gilt Chariot never marks the way, Leave a comment on line 155 0
¶ 156 Where none learn Ombre, none e’er taste Bohea! Leave a comment on line 156 0
¶ 157 There kept my charms conceal’d from mortal eye, Leave a comment on line 157 0
¶ 158 Like roses, that in deserts bloom and die. Leave a comment on line 158 0
¶ 159 What mov’d my mind with youthful Lords to roam? Leave a comment on line 159 0
¶ 160 Oh had I stay’d, and said my pray’rs at home! Leave a comment on line 160 0
¶ 161 ’Twas this, the morning omens seem’d to tell, Leave a comment on line 161 0
¶ 162 Thrice from my trembling hand the patch-box fell; Leave a comment on line 162 0
¶ 163 The tott’ring China shook without a wind. Leave a comment on line 163 0
¶ 164 Nay, Poll sat mute, and Shock was most unkind! Leave a comment on line 164 0
¶ 165 A Sylph too warn’d me of the threats of fate, Leave a comment on line 165 0
¶ 166 In mystic visions, now believ’d too late! Leave a comment on line 166 0
¶ 167 See the poor remnants of these slighted hairs! Leave a comment on line 167 0
¶ 168 My hands shall rend what ev’n thy rapine spares: Leave a comment on line 168 0
¶ 169 These in two sable ringlets taught to break, Leave a comment on line 169 0
¶ 170 Once gave new beauties to the snowy neck; Leave a comment on line 170 0
¶ 171 The sister-lock now sits uncouth, alone, Leave a comment on line 171 0
¶ 172 And in its fellow’s fate foresees its own; Leave a comment on line 172 0
¶ 173 Uncurl’d it hangs, the fatal shears demands, Leave a comment on line 173 0
¶ 174 And tempts once more thy sacrilegious hands. Leave a comment on line 174 0
¶ 175 Oh hadst thou, cruel! been content to seize Leave a comment on line 175 0
¶ 176 Hairs less in sight, or any hairs but these!” Leave a comment on line 176 1