Eighteenth-Century Innovations

Canto V

Paul Schacht

September 21, 2026

¶ 1 She said: the pitying audience melt in tears. Leave a comment on line 1 1
¶ 2 But Fate and Jove had stopp’d the Baron’s ears. Leave a comment on line 2 0
¶ 3 In vain Thalestris with reproach assails, Leave a comment on line 3 0
¶ 4 For who can move when fair Belinda fails? Leave a comment on line 4 0
¶ 5 Not half so fix’d the Trojan could remain, Leave a comment on line 5 0
¶ 6 While Anna begg’d and Dido rag’d in vain. Leave a comment on line 6 0
¶ 7 Then grave Clarissa graceful wav’d her fan; Leave a comment on line 7 0
¶ 8 Silence ensu’d, and thus the nymph began. Leave a comment on line 8 0

¶ 9 “Say why are Beauties prais’d and honour’d most, Leave a comment on line 9 0
¶ 10 The wise man’s passion, and the vain man’s toast? Leave a comment on line 10 0
¶ 11 Why deck’d with all that land and sea afford, Leave a comment on line 11 0
¶ 12 Why Angels call’d, and Angel-like ador’d? Leave a comment on line 12 0
¶ 13 Why round our coaches crowd the white-glov’d Beaux, Leave a comment on line 13 0
¶ 14 Why bows the side-box from its inmost rows; Leave a comment on line 14 0
¶ 15 How vain are all these glories, all our pains, Leave a comment on line 15 2
¶ 16 Unless good sense preserve what beauty gains: Leave a comment on line 16 2
¶ 17 That men may say, when we the front-box grace: Leave a comment on line 17 0
¶ 18 ‘Behold the first in virtue as in face!’ Leave a comment on line 18 2
¶ 19 Oh! if to dance all night, and dress all day, Leave a comment on line 19 0
¶ 20 Charm’d the small-pox, or chas’d old-age away; Leave a comment on line 20 0
¶ 21 Who would not scorn what housewife’s cares produce, Leave a comment on line 21 0
¶ 22 Or who would learn one earthly thing of use? Leave a comment on line 22 0
¶ 23 To patch, nay ogle, might become a Saint, Leave a comment on line 23 0
¶ 24 Nor could it sure be such a sin to paint. Leave a comment on line 24 0
¶ 25 But since, alas! frail beauty must decay, Leave a comment on line 25 0
¶ 26 Curl’d or uncurl’d, since Locks will turn to grey; Leave a comment on line 26 0
¶ 27 Since painted, or not painted, all shall fade, Leave a comment on line 27 0
¶ 28 And she who scorns a man, must die a maid; Leave a comment on line 28 0
¶ 29 What then remains but well our pow’r to use, Leave a comment on line 29 0
¶ 30 And keep good-humour still whate’er we lose? Leave a comment on line 30 0
¶ 31 And trust me, dear! good-humour can prevail, Leave a comment on line 31 1
¶ 32 When airs, and flights, and screams, and scolding fail. Leave a comment on line 32 0
¶ 33 Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll; Leave a comment on line 33 0
¶ 34 Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.” Leave a comment on line 34 0

¶ 35 So spoke the Dame, but no applause ensu’d; Leave a comment on line 35 0
¶ 36 Belinda frown’d, Thalestris call’d her Prude. Leave a comment on line 36 0
¶ 37 “To arms, to arms!” the fierce Virago cries, Leave a comment on line 37 0
¶ 38 And swift as lightning to the combat flies. Leave a comment on line 38 0
¶ 39 All side in parties, and begin th’ attack; Leave a comment on line 39 0
¶ 40 Fans clap, silks rustle, and tough whalebones crack; Leave a comment on line 40 0
¶ 41 Heroes’ and Heroines’ shouts confus’dly rise, Leave a comment on line 41 0
¶ 42 And bass, and treble voices strike the skies. Leave a comment on line 42 0
¶ 43 No common weapons in their hands are found, Leave a comment on line 43 0
¶ 44 Like Gods they fight, nor dread a mortal wound. Leave a comment on line 44 0

¶ 45 So when bold Homer makes the Gods engage, Leave a comment on line 45 1
¶ 46 And heav’nly breasts with human passions rage; Leave a comment on line 46 0
¶ 47 ‘Gainst Pallas, Mars; Latona, Hermes arms; Leave a comment on line 47 0
¶ 48 And all Olympus rings with loud alarms: Leave a comment on line 48 0
¶ 49 Jove’s thunder roars, heav’n trembles all around, Leave a comment on line 49 0
¶ 50 Blue Neptune storms, the bellowing deeps resound: Leave a comment on line 50 0
¶ 51 Earth shakes her nodding tow’rs, the ground gives way. Leave a comment on line 51 0
¶ 52 And the pale ghosts start at the flash of day! Leave a comment on line 52 0

¶ 53 Triumphant Umbriel on a sconce’s height Leave a comment on line 53 0
¶ 54 Clapp’d his glad wings, and sate to view the fight: Leave a comment on line 54 0
¶ 55 Propp’d on the bodkin spears, the Sprites survey Leave a comment on line 55 0
¶ 56 The growing combat, or assist the fray. Leave a comment on line 56 0

¶ 57 While thro’ the press enrag’d Thalestris flies, Leave a comment on line 57 0
¶ 58 And scatters death around from both her eyes, Leave a comment on line 58 0
¶ 59 A Beau and Witling perish’d in the throng, Leave a comment on line 59 0
¶ 60 One died in metaphor, and one in song. Leave a comment on line 60 1
¶ 61 “O cruel nymph! a living death I bear,” Leave a comment on line 61 0
¶ 62 Cry’d Dapperwit, and sunk beside his chair. Leave a comment on line 62 0
¶ 63 A mournful glance Sir Fopling upwards cast, Leave a comment on line 63 0
¶ 64 “Those eyes are made so killing” — was his last. Leave a comment on line 64 0
¶ 65 Thus on Mæander’s flow’ry margin lies Leave a comment on line 65 0
¶ 66 Th’ expiring Swan, and as he sings he dies. Leave a comment on line 66 0

¶ 67 When bold Sir Plume had drawn Clarissa down, Leave a comment on line 67 0
¶ 68 Chloe stepp’d in, and kill’d him with a frown; Leave a comment on line 68 2
¶ 69 She smil’d to see the doughty hero slain, Leave a comment on line 69 0
¶ 70 But, at her smile, the Beau reviv’d again. Leave a comment on line 70 0

¶ 71 Now Jove suspends his golden scales in air, Leave a comment on line 71 0
¶ 72 Weighs the Men’s wits against the Lady’s hair; Leave a comment on line 72 1
¶ 73 The doubtful beam long nods from side to side; Leave a comment on line 73 0
¶ 74 At length the wits mount up, the hairs subside. Leave a comment on line 74 0

¶ 75 See, fierce Belinda on the Baron flies, Leave a comment on line 75 0
¶ 76 With more than usual lightning in her eyes: Leave a comment on line 76 0
¶ 77 Nor fear’d the Chief th’ unequal fight to try, Leave a comment on line 77 0
¶ 78 Who sought no more than on his foe to die. Leave a comment on line 78 0
¶ 79 But this bold Lord with manly strength endu’d, Leave a comment on line 79 1
¶ 80 She with one finger and a thumb subdu’d: Leave a comment on line 80 0
¶ 81 Just where the breath of life his nostrils drew, Leave a comment on line 81 0
¶ 82 A charge of Snuff the wily virgin threw; Leave a comment on line 82 0
¶ 83 The Gnomes direct, to ev’ry atom just, Leave a comment on line 83 0
¶ 84 The pungent grains of titillating dust. Leave a comment on line 84 0
¶ 85 Sudden, with starting tears each eye o’erflows, Leave a comment on line 85 0
¶ 86 And the high dome re-echoes to his nose. Leave a comment on line 86 0

¶ 87 Now meet thy fate, incens’d Belinda cry’d, Leave a comment on line 87 0
¶ 88 And drew a deadly bodkin from her side. Leave a comment on line 88 0
¶ 89 (The same, his ancient personage to deck, Leave a comment on line 89 0
¶ 90 Her great great grandsire wore about his neck, Leave a comment on line 90 0
¶ 91 In three seal-rings; which after, melted down, Leave a comment on line 91 0
¶ 92 Form’d a vast buckle for his widow’s gown: Leave a comment on line 92 0
¶ 93 Her infant grandame’s whistle next it grew, Leave a comment on line 93 0
¶ 94 The bells she jingled, and the whistle blew; Leave a comment on line 94 0
¶ 95 Then in a bodkin grac’d her mother’s hairs, Leave a comment on line 95 0
¶ 96 Which long she wore, and now Belinda wears.) Leave a comment on line 96 0

¶ 97 “Boast not my fall” (he cry’d) “insulting foe! Leave a comment on line 97 0
¶ 98 Thou by some other shalt be laid as low, Leave a comment on line 98 0
¶ 99 Nor think, to die dejects my lofty mind: Leave a comment on line 99 0
¶ 100 All that I dread is leaving you behind! Leave a comment on line 100 0
¶ 101 Rather than so, ah let me still survive, Leave a comment on line 101 0
¶ 102 And burn in Cupid’s flames — but burn alive.” Leave a comment on line 102 0

¶ 103 “Restore the Lock!” she cries; and all around Leave a comment on line 103 0
¶ 104 “Restore the Lock!” the vaulted roofs rebound. Leave a comment on line 104 0
¶ 105 Not fierce Othello in so loud a strain Leave a comment on line 105 0
¶ 106 Roar’d for the handkerchief that caus’d his pain. Leave a comment on line 106 0
¶ 107 But see how oft ambitious aims are cross’d, Leave a comment on line 107 0
¶ 108 And chiefs contend ’till all the prize is lost! Leave a comment on line 108 0
¶ 109 The Lock, obtain’d with guilt, and kept with pain, Leave a comment on line 109 0
¶ 110 In ev’ry place is sought, but sought in vain: Leave a comment on line 110 0
¶ 111 With such a prize no mortal must be blest, Leave a comment on line 111 0
¶ 112 So heav’n decrees! with heav’n who can contest? Leave a comment on line 112 0

¶ 113 Some thought it mounted to the Lunar sphere, Leave a comment on line 113 0
¶ 114 Since all things lost on earth are treasur’d there. Leave a comment on line 114 0
¶ 115 There Hero’s wits are kept in pond’rous vases, Leave a comment on line 115 0
¶ 116 And beau’s in snuff-boxes and tweezer-cases. Leave a comment on line 116 0
¶ 117 There broken vows and death-bed alms are found, Leave a comment on line 117 0
¶ 118 And lovers’ hearts with ends of riband bound, Leave a comment on line 118 0
¶ 119 The courtier’s promises, and sick man’s pray’rs, Leave a comment on line 119 0
¶ 120 The smiles of harlots, and the tears of heirs, Leave a comment on line 120 0
¶ 121 Cages for gnats, and chains to yoke a flea, Leave a comment on line 121 0
¶ 122 Dry’d butterflies, and tomes of casuistry. Leave a comment on line 122 0

¶ 123 But trust the Muse — she saw it upward rise, Leave a comment on line 123 0
¶ 124 Tho’ mark’d by none but quick, poetic eyes: Leave a comment on line 124 0
¶ 125 (So Rome’s great founder to the heav’ns withdrew, Leave a comment on line 125 0
¶ 126 To Proculus alone confess’d in view) Leave a comment on line 126 0
¶ 127 A sudden Star, it shot thro’ liquid air, Leave a comment on line 127 0
¶ 128 And drew behind a radiant trail of hair. Leave a comment on line 128 0
¶ 129 Not Berenice’s Locks first rose so bright, Leave a comment on line 129 0
¶ 130 The heav’ns bespangling with dishevell’d light. Leave a comment on line 130 0
¶ 131 The Sylphs behold it kindling as it flies, Leave a comment on line 131 0
¶ 132 And pleas’d pursue its progress thro’ the skies. Leave a comment on line 132 0

¶ 133 This the Beau monde shall from the Mall survey, Leave a comment on line 133 0
¶ 134 And hail with music its propitious ray. Leave a comment on line 134 0
¶ 135 This the blest Lover shall for Venus take, Leave a comment on line 135 0
¶ 136 And send up vows from Rosamonda’s lake. Leave a comment on line 136 0
¶ 137 This Partridge soon shall view in cloudless skies, Leave a comment on line 137 0
¶ 138 When next he looks thro’ Galileo’s eyes; Leave a comment on line 138 0
¶ 139 And hence th’ egregious wizard shall foredoom Leave a comment on line 139 0
¶ 140 The fate of Louis, and the fall of Rome. Leave a comment on line 140 0
¶ 141 Then cease, bright Nymph! to mourn thy ravish’d hair, Leave a comment on line 141 2
¶ 142 Which adds new glory to the shining sphere! Leave a comment on line 142 1
¶ 143 Not all the tresses that fair head can boast, Leave a comment on line 143 0
¶ 144 Shall draw such envy as the Lock you lost. Leave a comment on line 144 0
¶ 145 For, after all the murders of your eye, Leave a comment on line 145 0
¶ 146 When, after millions slain, yourself shall die: Leave a comment on line 146 0
¶ 147 When those fair suns shall set, as set they must, Leave a comment on line 147 1
¶ 148 And all those tresses shall be laid in dust, Leave a comment on line 148 0
¶ 149 This Lock, the Muse shall consecrate to fame, Leave a comment on line 149 1
¶ 150 And ’midst the stars inscribe Belinda’s name. Leave a comment on line 150 0