Eighteenth-Century Innovations

Canto I

Paul Schacht

September 21, 2026

¶ 1 What dire offence from am’rous causes springs, Leave a comment on line 1 0
¶ 2 What mighty contests rise from trivial things, Leave a comment on line 2 1
¶ 3 I sing — This verse to Caryl, Muse! is due: Leave a comment on line 3 1
¶ 4 This, ev’n Belinda may vouchsafe to view: Leave a comment on line 4 1
¶ 5 Slight is the subject, but not so the praise, Leave a comment on line 5 0
¶ 6 If She inspire, and He approve my lays. Leave a comment on line 6 1

¶ 7 Say what strange motive, Goddess! could compel Leave a comment on line 7 0
¶ 8 A well-bred Lord t’ assault a gentle Belle? Leave a comment on line 8 1
¶ 9 O say what stranger cause, yet unexplor’d, Leave a comment on line 9 0
¶ 10 Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord? Leave a comment on line 10 0
¶ 11 In tasks so bold, can little men engage, Leave a comment on line 11 0
¶ 12 And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty Rage? Leave a comment on line 12 2

¶ 13 Sol thro’ white curtains shot a tim’rous ray, Leave a comment on line 13 0
¶ 14 And oped those eyes that must eclipse the day: Leave a comment on line 14 0
¶ 15 Now lap-dogs give themselves the rousing shake, Leave a comment on line 15 1
¶ 16 And sleepless lovers, just at twelve, awake: Leave a comment on line 16 0
¶ 17 Thrice rung the bell, the slipper knock’d the ground, Leave a comment on line 17 0
¶ 18 And the press’d watch return’d a silver sound. Leave a comment on line 18 0
¶ 19 Belinda still her downy pillow prest, Leave a comment on line 19 0
¶ 20 Her guardian Sylph prolong’d the balmy rest: Leave a comment on line 20 0
¶ 21 ’Twas He had summon’d to her silent bed Leave a comment on line 21 0
¶ 22 The morning-dream that hover’d o’er her head; Leave a comment on line 22 1
¶ 23 A Youth more glitt’ring than a Birth-night Beau, Leave a comment on line 23 0
¶ 24 (That ev’n in slumber caus’d her cheek to glow) Leave a comment on line 24 0
¶ 25 Seem’d to her ear his winning lips to lay, Leave a comment on line 25 0
¶ 26 And thus in whispers said, or seem’d to say. Leave a comment on line 26 0
¶ 27 Fairest of mortals, thou distinguish’d care Leave a comment on line 27 0
¶ 28 Of thousand bright Inhabitants of Air! Leave a comment on line 28 0
¶ 29 If e’er one vision touch.’d thy infant thought, Leave a comment on line 29 1
¶ 30 Of all the Nurse and all the Priest have taught; Leave a comment on line 30 0
¶ 31 Of airy Elves by moonlight shadows seen, Leave a comment on line 31 0
¶ 32 The silver token, and the circled green, Leave a comment on line 32 0
¶ 33 Or virgins visited by Angel-pow’rs, Leave a comment on line 33 0
¶ 34 With golden crowns and wreaths of heav’nly flow’rs; Leave a comment on line 34 0
¶ 35 Hear and believe! thy own importance know, Leave a comment on line 35 0
¶ 36 Nor bound thy narrow views to things below. Leave a comment on line 36 0
¶ 37 Some secret truths, from learned pride conceal’d, Leave a comment on line 37 0
¶ 38 To Maids alone and Children are reveal’d: Leave a comment on line 38 0
¶ 39 What tho’ no credit doubting Wits may give? Leave a comment on line 39 0
¶ 40 The Fair and Innocent shall still believe. Leave a comment on line 40 0
¶ 41 Know, then, unnumber’d Spirits round thee fly, Leave a comment on line 41 0
¶ 42 The light Militia of the lower sky: Leave a comment on line 42 1
¶ 43 These, tho’ unseen, are ever on the wing, Leave a comment on line 43 0
¶ 44 Hang o’er the Box, and hover round the Ring. Leave a comment on line 44 1
¶ 45 Think what an equipage thou hast in Air, Leave a comment on line 45 0
¶ 46 And view with scorn two Pages and a Chair. Leave a comment on line 46 1
¶ 47 As now your own, our beings were of old, Leave a comment on line 47 0
¶ 48 And once inclos’d in Woman’s beauteous mould; Leave a comment on line 48 1
¶ 49 Thence, by a soft transition, we repair Leave a comment on line 49 0
¶ 50 From earthly Vehicles to these of air. Leave a comment on line 50 0
¶ 51 Think not, when Woman’s transient breath is fled Leave a comment on line 51 0
¶ 52 That all her vanities at once are dead; Leave a comment on line 52 0
¶ 53 Succeeding vanities she still regards, Leave a comment on line 53 0
¶ 54 And tho’ she plays no more, o’erlooks the cards. Leave a comment on line 54 0
¶ 55 Her joy in gilded Chariots, when alive, Leave a comment on line 55 1
¶ 56 And love of Ombre, after death survive. Leave a comment on line 56 1
¶ 57 For when the Fair in all their pride expire, Leave a comment on line 57 1
¶ 58 To their first Elements their Souls retire: Leave a comment on line 58 0
¶ 59 The Sprites of fiery Termagants in Flame Leave a comment on line 59 1
¶ 60 Mount up, and take a Salamander’s name. Leave a comment on line 60 0
¶ 61 Soft yielding minds to Water glide away, Leave a comment on line 61 0
¶ 62 And sip, with Nymphs, their elemental Tea. Leave a comment on line 62 0
¶ 63 The graver Prude sinks downward to a Gnome, Leave a comment on line 63 1
¶ 64 In search of mischief still on Earth to roam. Leave a comment on line 64 0
¶ 65 The light Coquettes in Sylphs aloft repair, Leave a comment on line 65 0
¶ 66 And sport and flutter in the fields of Air. Leave a comment on line 66 0

¶ 67 “Know further yet; whoever fair and chaste Leave a comment on line 67 0
¶ 68 Rejects mankind, is by some Sylph embrac’d: Leave a comment on line 68 0
¶ 69 For Spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease Leave a comment on line 69 0
¶ 70 Assume what sexes and what shapes they please. Leave a comment on line 70 1
¶ 71 What guards the purity of melting Maids, Leave a comment on line 71 0
¶ 72 In courtly balls, and midnight masquerades, Leave a comment on line 72 0
¶ 73 Safe from the treach’rous friend, the daring spark, Leave a comment on line 73 0
¶ 74 The glance by day, the whisper in the dark, Leave a comment on line 74 0
¶ 75 When kind occasion prompts their warm desires, Leave a comment on line 75 0
¶ 76 When music softens, and when dancing fires? Leave a comment on line 76 0
¶ 77 ’Tis but their Sylph, the wise Celestials know, Leave a comment on line 77 0
¶ 78 Tho’ Honour is the word with Men below. Leave a comment on line 78 1

¶ 79 Some nymphs there are, too conscious of their face, Leave a comment on line 79 0
¶ 80 For life predestin’d to the Gnomes’ embrace. Leave a comment on line 80 0
¶ 81 These swell their prospects and exalt their pride, Leave a comment on line 81 0
¶ 82 When offers are disdain’d, and love deny’d: Leave a comment on line 82 1
¶ 83 Then gay Ideas crowd the vacant brain, Leave a comment on line 83 0
¶ 84 While Peers, and Dukes, and all their sweeping train, Leave a comment on line 84 0
¶ 85 And Garters, Stars, and Coronets appear, Leave a comment on line 85 0
¶ 86 And in soft sounds, Your Grace salutes their ear. Leave a comment on line 86 0
¶ 87 ’Tis these that early taint the female soul, Leave a comment on line 87 0
¶ 88 Instruct the eyes of young Coquettes to roll, Leave a comment on line 88 1
¶ 89 Teach Infant-cheeks a bidden blush to know, Leave a comment on line 89 0
¶ 90 And little hearts to flutter at a Beau. Leave a comment on line 90 0

¶ 91 Oft, when the world imagine women stray, Leave a comment on line 91 0
¶ 92 The Sylphs thro’ mystic mazes guide their way, Leave a comment on line 92 1
¶ 93 Thro’ all the giddy circle they pursue, Leave a comment on line 93 0
¶ 94 And old impertinence expel by new. Leave a comment on line 94 0
¶ 95 What tender maid but must a victim fall Leave a comment on line 95 1
¶ 96 To one man’s treat, but for another’s ball? Leave a comment on line 96 0
¶ 97 When Florio speaks what virgin could withstand, Leave a comment on line 97 0
¶ 98 If gentle Damon did not squeeze her hand? Leave a comment on line 98 0
¶ 99 With varying vanities, from ev’ry part, Leave a comment on line 99 0
¶ 100 They shift the moving Toyshop of their heart; Leave a comment on line 100 1
¶ 101 Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive, Leave a comment on line 101 0
¶ 102 Beaux banish beaux, and coaches coaches drive. Leave a comment on line 102 0
¶ 103 This erring mortals Levity may call; Leave a comment on line 103 0
¶ 104 Oh blind to truth! the Sylphs contrive it all. Leave a comment on line 104 0

¶ 105 Of these am I, who thy protection claim, Leave a comment on line 105 0
¶ 106 A watchful sprite, and Ariel is my name. Leave a comment on line 106 1
¶ 107 Late, as I rang’d the crystal wilds of air, Leave a comment on line 107 0
¶ 108 In the clear Mirror of thy ruling Star Leave a comment on line 108 0
¶ 109 I saw, alas! some dread event impend, Leave a comment on line 109 0
¶ 110 Ere to the main this morning sun descend, Leave a comment on line 110 0
¶ 111 But heav’n reveals not what, or how, or where: Leave a comment on line 111 0
¶ 112 Warn’d by the Sylph, oh pious maid, beware! Leave a comment on line 112 0
¶ 113 This to disclose is all thy guardian can: Leave a comment on line 113 0
¶ 114 Beware of all, but most beware of Man!” Leave a comment on line 114 2

¶ 115 He said; when Shock, who thought she slept too long, Leave a comment on line 115 1
¶ 116 Leap’d up, and wak’d his mistress with his tongue. Leave a comment on line 116 0
¶ 117 ’Twas then, Belinda, if report say true, Leave a comment on line 117 0
¶ 118 Thy eyes first open’d on a Billet-doux; Leave a comment on line 118 1
¶ 119 Wounds, Charms, and Ardors were no sooner read, Leave a comment on line 119 1
¶ 120 But all the Vision vanish’d from thy head. Leave a comment on line 120 0

¶ 121 And now, unveil’d, the Toilet stands display’d, Leave a comment on line 121 1
¶ 122 Each silver Vase in mystic order laid. Leave a comment on line 122 0
¶ 123 First, rob’d in white, the Nymph intent adores, Leave a comment on line 123 0
¶ 124 With head uncover’d, the Cosmetic pow’rs. Leave a comment on line 124 0
¶ 125 A heav’nly image in the glass appears, Leave a comment on line 125 0
¶ 126 To that she bends, to that her eyes she rears; Leave a comment on line 126 0
¶ 127 Th’ inferior Priestess, at her altar’s side, Leave a comment on line 127 0
¶ 128 Trembling begins the sacred rites of Pride. Leave a comment on line 128 1
¶ 129 Unnumber’d treasures ope at once, and here Leave a comment on line 129 0
¶ 130 The various off’rings of the world appear; Leave a comment on line 130 0
¶ 131 From each she nicely culls with curious toil, Leave a comment on line 131 0
¶ 132 And decks the Goddess with the glitt’ring spoil. Leave a comment on line 132 0
¶ 133 This casket India’s glowing gems unlocks, Leave a comment on line 133 0
¶ 134 And all Arabia breathes from yonder box. Leave a comment on line 134 0
¶ 135 The Tortoise here and Elephant unite, Leave a comment on line 135 0
¶ 136 Transformed to combs, the speckled, and the white. Leave a comment on line 136 1
¶ 137 Here files of pins extend their shining rows, Leave a comment on line 137 0
¶ 138 Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux. Leave a comment on line 138 1
¶ 139 Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms; Leave a comment on line 139 0
¶ 140 The fair each moment rises in her charms, Leave a comment on line 140 0
¶ 141 Repairs her smiles, awakens ev’ry grace, Leave a comment on line 141 0
¶ 142 And calls forth all the wonders of her face; Leave a comment on line 142 0
¶ 143 Sees by degrees a purer blush arise, Leave a comment on line 143 0
¶ 144 And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes. Leave a comment on line 144 0
¶ 145 The busy Sylphs surround their darling care, Leave a comment on line 145 0
¶ 146 These set the head, and those divide the hair, Leave a comment on line 146 0
¶ 147 Some fold the sleeve, whilst others plait the gown: Leave a comment on line 147 0
¶ 148 And Betty’s prais’d for labours not her own. Leave a comment on line 148 1