“The Rape of the Lock” is a mock-epic poem written by Alexander Pope. A mock-epic poem is equal in length to a traditional epic but takes a satirical tone rather than a serious one. The poem was originally published in 1712 and contained only two cantos. Pope, wanting to further expand its epic format, rewrote the poem several times and finally published a five-canto version in 1717. This version is the version we read today and is widely regarded as one of the greatest mock-epic poems written in the English language. It also established Pope as a master of the heroic couplet.

Written in the Augustan era of English history, the poem upholds the standards of its times. The Augustans, inspired by Greek and Latin classical modes of poetry, believed that poetry’s purpose was first to instruct and then to delight. There was an emphasis on rationalism and morality—with satire being commonly used as a device in which writers would comment on the ethical values of their time. Pope employs elements of classicism and satire to raise such questions in “The Rape of the Lock.” The poem is largely concerned with the elite and bourgeois classes of English society and their relationships to social status. It also explores the (biased) gender politics in Pope’s day.

“The Rape of the Lock” has an interesting history as it was inspired by real-life events: Lord Petre (the inspiration for the baron) cut off a lock of Arabella Fermor’s hair (Belinda’s muse) without her consent. The event threw the two families into a public feud despite them being friendly for years. Pope’s friend John Caryll asked him to write the poem as a humorous peace offering. Both families were recusant Roman Catholics during a time in England’s history of anti-Catholic legislation, so the poem’s representations of religion are also noteworthy.

Poet Biography

Alexander Pope was born on May 21st, 1668 in London, England. In childhood, Pope developed spinal tuberculosis that resulted in a lifelong disability. His poor health and illnesses prevented him from growing beyond four-foot-six inches into adulthood.

Born of a Catholic family, Pope’s education was affected by the Test Act, which banned Catholics from studying at university. However, Pope managed to continue his education at two Catholic schools in London before being forced to move. Anti-Catholic sentiments of the times prevented them from living within 10 miles of London, so Pope moved to Binfield, a town near the Windsor Forest. From there, his formal education ended, and Pope remained self-taught.

Pope was an esteemed writer since his first publication in 1709. Having befriended many figures in the literary community of the time, Pope enjoyed success during his lifetime. He supported himself financially through his translations of Homer’s epics and as an editor of an edition of Shakespeare’s collected works.

Pope’s notable works are An Essay on Criticism, “The Rape of the Lock,” Moral Essays and An Essay on Man. He is known for his satires, which also made him quite a few enemies. He is known to have carried a pistol with him while walking his dog. Overall, Pope was very well respected among the literary and scholarly elite. When he died, in 1744, he was considered one of the greatest English poets, among the leagues of Milton, Shakespeare, and Chaucer.

Poem Text

Canto 1

Nolueram, Belinda, tuos violare capillos; 

Sedjuvat, hoc precibus me tribuisse tuis. 

(Martial, Epigrams 12.84)

What dire offence from am’rous causes springs, 

What mighty contests rise from trivial things, 

I sing—This verse to Caryl, Muse! is due: 

This, ev’n Belinda may vouchsafe to view: 

Slight is the subject, but not so the praise, 

If she inspire, and he approve my lays.

Say what strange motive, Goddess! could compel 

A well-bred lord t’ assault a gentle belle? 

Say what stranger cause, yet unexplor’d, 

Could make a gentle belle reject a lord? 

In tasks so bold, can little men engage, 

And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty rage?

Sol thro’ white curtains shot a tim’rous ray, 

And op’d those eyes that must eclipse the day; 

Now lap-dogs give themselves the rousing shake, 

And sleepless lovers, just at twelve, awake: 

Thrice rung the bell, the slipper knock’d the ground, 

And the press’d watch return’d a silver sound. 

Belinda still her downy pillow press’d, 

Her guardian sylph prolong’d the balmy rest: 

‘Twas he had summon’d to her silent bed 

The morning dream that hover’d o’er her head; 

A youth more glitt’ring than a birthnight beau, 

(That ev’n in slumber caus’d her cheek to glow) 

Seem’d to her ear his winning lips to lay, 

And thus in whispers said, or seem’d to say.

“Fairest of mortals, thou distinguish’d care 

Of thousand bright inhabitants of air! 

If e’er one vision touch’d thy infant thought, 

Of all the nurse and all the priest have taught, 

Of airy elves by moonlight shadows seen, 

The silver token, and the circled green, 

Or virgins visited by angel pow’rs, 

With golden crowns and wreaths of heav’nly flow’rs, 

Hear and believe! thy own importance know, 

Nor bound thy narrow views to things below. 

Some secret truths from learned pride conceal’d, 

To maids alone and children are reveal’d: 

What tho’ no credit doubting wits may give? 

The fair and innocent shall still believe. 

Know then, unnumber’d spirits round thee fly, 

The light militia of the lower sky; 

These, though unseen, are ever on the wing, 

Hang o’er the box, and hover round the Ring. 

Think what an equipage thou hast in air, 

And view with scorn two pages and a chair. 

As now your own, our beings were of old, 

And once inclos’d in woman’s beauteous mould; 

Thence, by a soft transition, we repair 

From earthly vehicles to these of air. 

Think not, when woman’s transient breath is fled, 

That all her vanities at once are dead; 

Succeeding vanities she still regards, 

And tho’ she plays no more, o’erlooks the cards. 

Her joy in gilded chariots, when alive, 

And love of ombre, after death survive. 

For when the fair in all their pride expire, 

To their first elements their souls retire: 

The sprites of fiery termagants in flame 

Mount up, and take a Salamander’s name. 

Soft yielding minds to water glide away, 

And sip with Nymphs, their elemental tea. 

The graver prude sinks downward to a Gnome, 

In search of mischief still on earth to roam. 

The light coquettes in Sylphs aloft repair, 

And sport and flutter in the fields of air.

Know further yet; whoever fair and chaste 

Rejects mankind, is by some sylph embrac’d: 

For spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease 

Assume what sexes and what shapes they please. 

What guards the purity of melting maids, 

In courtly balls, and midnight masquerades, 

Safe from the treach’rous friend, the daring spark, 

The glance by day, the whisper in the dark, 

When kind occasion prompts their warm desires, 

When music softens, and when dancing fires? 

‘Tis but their sylph, the wise celestials know, 

Though honour is the word with men below.

Some nymphs there are, too conscious of their face, 

For life predestin’d to the gnomes’ embrace. 

These swell their prospects and exalt their pride, 

When offers are disdain’d, and love denied: 

Then gay ideas crowd the vacant brain, 

While peers, and dukes, and all their sweeping train, 

And garters, stars, and coronets appear, 

And in soft sounds ‘Your Grace’ salutes their ear. 

‘Tis these that early taint the female soul, 

Instruct the eyes of young coquettes to roll, 

Teach infant cheeks a bidden blush to know, 

And little hearts to flutter at a beau.

Oft, when the world imagine women stray, 

The Sylphs through mystic mazes guide their way, 

Thro’ all the giddy circle they pursue, 

And old impertinence expel by new. 

What tender maid but must a victim fall 

To one man’s treat, but for another’s ball? 

When Florio speaks, what virgin could withstand, 

If gentle Damon did not squeeze her hand? 

With varying vanities, from ev’ry part, 

They shift the moving toyshop of their heart; 

Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive, 

Beaux banish beaux, and coaches coaches drive. 

This erring mortals levity may call, 

Oh blind to truth! the Sylphs contrive it all.

Of these am I, who thy protection claim, 

A watchful sprite, and Ariel is my name. 

Late, as I rang’d the crystal wilds of air, 

In the clear mirror of thy ruling star 

I saw, alas! some dread event impend, 

Ere to the main this morning sun descend, 

But Heav’n reveals not what, or how, or where: 

Warn’d by the Sylph, oh pious maid, beware! 

This to disclose is all thy guardian can. 

Beware of all, but most beware of man!”

He said; when Shock, who thought she slept too long, 

Leap’d up, and wak’d his mistress with his tongue. 

‘Twas then, Belinda, if report say true, 

Thy eyes first open’d on a billet-doux; 

Wounds, charms, and ardors were no sooner read, 

But all the vision vanish’d from thy head.

And now, unveil’d, the toilet stands display’d, 

Each silver vase in mystic order laid. 

First, rob’d in white, the nymph intent adores 

With head uncover’d, the cosmetic pow’rs. 

A heav’nly image in the glass appears, 

To that she bends, to that her eyes she rears; 

Th’ inferior priestess, at her altar’s side, 

Trembling, begins the sacred rites of pride. 

Unnumber’d treasures ope at once, and here 

The various off’rings of the world appear; 

From each she nicely culls with curious toil, 

And decks the goddess with the glitt’ring spoil. 

This casket India’s glowing gems unlocks, 

And all Arabia breathes from yonder box. 

The tortoise here and elephant unite, 

Transform’d to combs, the speckled and the white. 

Here files of pins extend their shining rows, 

Puffs, powders, patches, bibles, billet-doux. 

Now awful beauty puts on all its arms; 

The fair each moment rises in her charms, 

Repairs her smiles, awakens ev’ry grace, 

And calls forth all the wonders of her face; 

Sees by degrees a purer blush arise, 

And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes. 

The busy Sylphs surround their darling care; 

These set the head, and those divide the hair, 

Some fold the sleeve, whilst others plait the gown; 

And Betty’s prais’d for labours not her own.

Canto 2

Not with more glories, in th’ etherial plain, 

The sun first rises o’er the purpled main, 

Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams 

Launch’d on the bosom of the silver Thames. 

Fair nymphs, and well-dress’d youths around her shone, 

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

On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore, 

Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore. 

Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose, 

Quick as her eyes, and as unfix’d as those: 

Favours to none, to all she smiles extends; 

Oft she 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 ease, 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 destruction of mankind, 

Nourish’d two locks, which graceful hung behind 

In equal curls, and well conspir’d to deck 

With shining ringlets the smooth iv’ry neck. 

Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains, 

And mighty hearts are held in slender chains. 

With hairy springes we the birds betray, 

Slight lines of hair surprise the finney prey, 

Fair tresses man’s imperial race ensnare, 

And beauty draws us with a single hair.

Th’ advent’rous baron the bright locks admir’d; 

He saw, he wish’d, and to the prize aspir’d. 

Resolv’d to win, he meditates the way, 

By force to ravish, or by fraud betray; 

For when success a lover’s toil attends, 

Few ask, if fraud or force attain’d his ends.

For this, ere Phoebus rose, he had implor’d 

Propitious Heav’n, and ev’ry pow’r ador’d, 

But chiefly love—to love an altar built, 

Of twelve vast French romances, neatly gilt. 

There lay three garters, half a pair of gloves; 

And all the trophies of his former loves; 

With tender billet-doux he lights the pyre, 

And breathes three am’rous sighs to raise the fire. 

Then prostrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes 

Soon to obtain, and long possess the prize: 

The pow’rs gave ear, and granted half his pray’r, 

The rest, the winds dispers’d in empty air.

But now secure the painted vessel glides, 

The sun-beams trembling on the floating tides, 

While melting music steals upon the sky, 

And soften’d sounds along the waters die. 

Smooth flow the waves, the zephyrs gently play, 

Belinda smil’d, and all the world was gay. 

All but the Sylph—with careful thoughts opprest, 

Th’ impending woe sat heavy on his breast. 

He summons strait his denizens of air; 

The lucid squadrons round the sails repair: 

Soft o’er the shrouds aerial whispers breathe, 

That seem’d but zephyrs to the train beneath. 

Some to the sun their insect-wings unfold, 

Waft on the breeze, or sink in clouds of gold. 

Transparent forms, too fine for mortal sight, 

Their fluid bodies half dissolv’d in light, 

Loose to the wind their airy garments flew, 

Thin glitt’ring textures of the filmy dew; 

Dipp’d in the richest tincture of the skies, 

Where light disports in ever-mingling dyes, 

While ev’ry beam new transient colours flings, 

Colours that change whene’er they wave their wings. 

Amid the circle, on the gilded mast, 

Superior by the head, was Ariel plac’d; 

His purple pinions op’ning to the sun, 

He rais’d his azure wand, and thus begun.

“Ye Sylphs and Sylphids, to your chief give ear! 

Fays, Fairies, Genii, Elves, and Dæmons, hear! 

Ye know the spheres and various tasks assign’d 

By laws eternal to th’ aerial kind. 

Some in the fields of purest 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 through the boundless sky. 

Some less refin’d, beneath the moon’s pale light 

Pursue the stars that shoot athwart the night, 

Or suck the mists in grosser air below, 

Or dip their pinions in the painted bow, 

Or brew fierce tempests on the wintry main, 

Or o’er the glebe distil the kindly rain. 

Others on earth o’er human race preside, 

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 less pleasing, though less glorious care. 

To save the powder from too rude a gale, 

Nor let th’ imprison’d essences exhale, 

To draw fresh colours from the vernal flow’rs, 

To steal from rainbows e’er they drop in show’rs 

A brighter wash; to curl their waving hairs, 

Assist their blushes, and inspire 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 deserv’d a watchful spirit’s care; 

Some dire disaster, or by force, or slight, 

But what, or where, the fates have wrapt in night. 

Whether the nymph shall break Diana’s law, 

Or some frail china jar receive a flaw; 

Or stain her honour, or her new brocade, 

Forget her pray’rs, or miss a masquerade; 

Or lose her heart, or necklace, at a ball; 

Or whether Heav’n has doom’d that Shock must fall. 

Haste, then, ye spirits! to your charge repair: 

The flutt’ring fan be Zephyretta’s care; 

The drops to thee, Brillante, we consign; 

And, Momentilla, let the watch be thine; 

Do thou, Crispissa, tend her fav’rite lock; 

Ariel himself shall be the guard of Shock.

“To fifty chosen Sylphs, of special note, 

We trust th’ important charge, the petticoat: 

Oft have we known that sev’n-fold fence to fail, 

Though stiff with hoops, and arm’d with ribs of whale. 

Form a strong line about the silver bound, 

And guard the wide circumference around.

“Whatever spirit, careless of his charge, 

His post neglects, or leaves the fair at large, 

Shall feel sharp vengeance soon o’ertake his sins, 

Be stopp’d in vials, 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 shall his flight restrain, 

While clogg’d he beats his silken wings in vain; 

Or alum styptics with contracting pow’r 

Shrink his thin essence like a rivell’d flow’r. 

Or, as Ixion fix’d, the wretch shall feel 

The giddy motion of the whirling mill, 

In fumes of burning chocolate shall glow, 

And tremble at the sea that froths below!”

He spoke; the spirits from the sails 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.

Canto 3

Close by those meads, for ever crown’d with flow’rs, 

Where Thames with pride surveys his rising tow’rs, 

There stands a structure of majestic frame, 

Which from the neighb’ring Hampton takes its name. 

Here Britain’s statesmen oft the fall foredoom 

Of foreign tyrants and of nymphs at home; 

Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey, 

Dost sometimes counsel take—and sometimes tea.

Hither the heroes and the nymphs resort, 

To taste awhile the pleasures of a court; 

In various talk th’ instructive hours they pass’d, 

Who gave the ball, or paid the visit last; 

One speaks the glory of the British queen, 

And one describes a charming Indian screen; 

A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes; 

At ev’ry word a reputation dies. 

Snuff, or the fan, supply each pause of chat, 

With singing, laughing, ogling, and all that.

Meanwhile, declining from the noon of day, 

The sun obliquely shoots his burning ray; 

The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, 

And wretches hang that jury-men may dine; 

The merchant from th’ Exchange returns in peace, 

And the long labours of the toilet cease. 

Belinda now, whom thirst of fame invites, 

Burns to encounter two adventrous knights, 

At ombre singly to decide their doom; 

And swells her breast with conquests yet to come. 

Straight the three bands prepare in arms to join, 

Each band the number of the sacred nine. 

Soon as she spreads her hand, th’ aerial guard 

Descend, and sit on each important card: 

First Ariel perch’d upon a Matadore, 

Then each, according to the rank they bore; 

For Sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race, 

Are, as when women, wondrous fond of place.

Behold, four Kings in majesty rever’d, 

With hoary whiskers and a forky beard; 

And four fair Queens whose hands sustain a flow’r, 

Th’ expressive emblem of their softer pow’r; 

Four Knaves in garbs succinct, a trusty band, 

Caps on their heads, and halberds in their hand; 

And parti-colour’d troops, a shining train, 

Draw forth to combat on the velvet plain.

The skilful nymph reviews her force with care: 

“Let Spades be trumps!” she said, and trumps they were.

Now move to war her sable Matadores, 

In show like leaders of the swarthy Moors. 

Spadillio first, 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 Basto follow’d, but his fate more hard 

Gain’d but one trump and one plebeian card. 

With his broad sabre next, a chief in years, 

The hoary Majesty of Spades appears; 

Puts forth one manly leg, to sight reveal’d; 

The rest, 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 mighty Pam, that kings and queens o’erthrew 

And mow’d down armies in the fights of loo, 

Sad chance of war! now destitute of aid, 

Falls undistinguish’d by the victor Spade!

Thus far both armies to Belinda yield; 

Now to the baron fate inclines the field. 

His warlike Amazon her host invades, 

Th’ imperial consort of the crown of Spades. 

The Club’s black tyrant first her victim died, 

Spite of his haughty mien, and barb’rous pride: 

What boots the regal circle on his head, 

His giant limbs, in state unwieldy spread; 

That long behind he trails his pompous robe, 

And of all monarchs, only grasps the globe?

The baron now his diamonds pours apace; 

Th’ embroider’d King who shows but half his face, 

And his refulgent Queen, with pow’rs combin’d 

Of broken troops an easy conquest find. 

Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild disorder seen, 

With throngs promiscuous strow the level green. 

Thus when dispers’d a routed army runs, 

Of Asia’s troops, and Afric’s sable sons, 

With like confusion diff’rent nations fly, 

Of various habit, and of various dye, 

The pierc’d battalions disunited fall. 

In heaps on heaps; one fate o’erwhelms them all.

The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, 

And wins (oh shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts. 

At this, the blood the virgin’s cheek forsook, 

A livid paleness spreads o’er all her look; 

She sees, and trembles at th’ approaching ill, 

Just in the jaws of ruin, and codille. 

And now (as oft in some distemper’d state) 

On one nice trick depends the gen’ral fate. 

An Ace of Hearts steps forth: The King unseen 

Lurk’d in her hand, and mourn’d his captive Queen: 

He springs to vengeance with an eager pace, 

And falls like thunder on the prostrate Ace. 

The nymph exulting fills with shouts the sky; 

The walls, the woods, and long canals reply.

Oh thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate, 

Too soon dejected, and too soon elate! 

Sudden, these honours shall be snatch’d away, 

And curs’d for ever this victorious day.

For lo! the board with cups and spoons is crown’d, 

The berries crackle, and the mill turns round. 

On shining altars of Japan they raise 

The silver lamp; the fiery spirits blaze. 

From silver spouts the grateful liquors glide, 

While China’s earth receives the smoking tide. 

At once they gratify their scent and taste, 

And frequent cups prolong the rich repast. 

Straight hover round the fair her airy band; 

Some, as she sipp’d, the fuming liquor fann’d, 

Some o’er her lap their careful plumes display’d, 

Trembling, and conscious of the rich brocade. 

Coffee, (which makes the politician wise, 

And see through all things with his half-shut eyes) 

Sent up in vapours to the baron’s brain 

New stratagems, the radiant lock to gain. 

Ah cease, rash youth! desist ere ‘tis too late, 

Fear the just gods, and think of Scylla’s fate! 

Chang’d to a bird, and sent to flit in air, 

She dearly pays for Nisus’ injur’d hair!

But when to mischief mortals bend their will, 

How soon they find fit instruments of ill! 

Just then, Clarissa drew with tempting grace 

A two-edg’d weapon from her shining case; 

So ladies in romance assist their knight 

Present the spear, and arm him for the fight. 

He takes the gift with rev’rence, and extends 

The little engine on his fingers’ ends; 

This just behind Belinda’s neck he spread, 

As o’er the fragrant steams she bends her head. 

Swift to the lock a thousand sprites repair, 

A thousand wings, by turns, blow back the hair, 

And thrice they twitch’d the diamond in her ear, 

Thrice she look’d back, and thrice the foe drew near. 

Just in that instant, anxious Ariel sought 

The close recesses of the virgin’s thought; 

As on the nosegay in her breast reclin’d, 

He watch’d th’ ideas rising in her mind, 

Sudden he view’d, in spite of all her art, 

An earthly lover lurking at her heart. 

Amaz’d, confus’d, he found his pow’r expir’d, 

Resign’d to fate, and with a sigh retir’d.

The peer now spreads the glitt’ring forfex wide, 

T’ inclose the lock; now joins it, to divide. 

Ev’n then, before the fatal engine clos’d, 

A wretched Sylph too fondly interpos’d; 

Fate urg’d the shears, and cut the Sylph in twain, 

(But airy substance soon unites again). 

The meeting points the sacred hair dissever 

From the fair head, for ever, and for ever!

Then flash’d the living lightning from her eyes, 

And screams of horror rend th’ affrighted skies. 

Not louder shrieks to pitying Heav’n are cast, 

When husbands or when lap-dogs breathe their last, 

Or when rich China vessels, fall’n from high, 

In glitt’ring dust and painted fragments lie!

“Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine,” 

The victor cried, “the glorious prize is mine! 

While fish in streams, or birds delight in air, 

Or in a coach and six the British fair, 

As long at Atalantis shall be read, 

Or the small pillow grace a lady’s bed, 

While visits shall be paid on solemn days, 

When num’rous wax-lights in bright order blaze, 

While nymphs take treats, or assignations give, 

So long my honour, name, and praise shall live! 

What time would spare, from steel receives its date, 

And monuments, like men, submit to fate! 

Steel could the labour of the gods destroy, 

And strike to dust th’ imperial tow’rs of Troy; 

Steel could the works of mortal pride confound, 

And hew triumphal arches to the ground. 

What wonder then, fair nymph! thy hairs should feel 

The conqu’ring force of unresisted steel?”

Canto 4

But anxious cares the pensive nymph oppress’d, 

And secret passions labour’d in her breast. 

Not youthful kings in battle seiz’d alive, 

Not scornful virgins who their charms survive, 

Not ardent lovers robb’d of all their bliss, 

Not ancient ladies when refus’d a kiss, 

Not tyrants fierce that unrepenting die, 

Not Cynthia when her manteau’s pinn’d awry, 

E’er felt such rage, resentment, and despair, 

As thou, sad virgin! for thy ravish’d hair.

For, that sad moment, when the Sylphs withdrew, 

And Ariel weeping from Belinda flew, 

Umbriel, a dusky, melancholy sprite, 

As ever sullied the fair face of light, 

Down to the central earth, his proper scene, 

Repair’d to search the gloomy cave of Spleen.

Swift on his sooty pinions flits the Gnome, 

And in a vapour reach’d the dismal dome. 

No cheerful breeze this sullen region knows, 

The dreaded East is all the wind that blows. 

Here, in a grotto, shelter’d close from air, 

And screen’d in shades from day’s detested glare, 

She sighs for ever on her pensive bed, 

Pain at her side, and Megrim at her head.

Two handmaids wait the throne: alike in place, 

But diff’ring far in figure and in face. 

Here stood Ill Nature like an ancient maid, 

Her wrinkled form in black and white array’d; 

With store of pray’rs, for mornings, nights, and noons, 

Her hand is fill’d; her bosom with lampoons.

There Affectation, with a sickly mien, 

Shows in her cheek the roses of eighteen, 

Practis’d to lisp, and hang the head aside, 

Faints into airs, and languishes with pride, 

On the rich quilt sinks with becoming woe, 

Wrapp’d in a gown, for sickness, and for show. 

The fair ones feel such maladies as these, 

When each new night-dress gives a new disease.

A constant vapour o’er the palace flies; 

Strange phantoms, rising as the mists arise; 

Dreadful, as hermit’s dreams in haunted shades, 

Or bright, as visions of expiring maids. 

Now glaring fiends, and snakes on rolling spires, 

Pale spectres, gaping tombs, and purple fires: 

Now lakes of liquid gold, Elysian scenes, 

And crystal domes, and angels in machines.

Unnumber’d throngs on ev’ry side are seen 

Of bodies chang’d to various forms by Spleen. 

Here living teapots stand, one arm held out, 

One bent; the handle this, and that the spout: 

A pipkin there, like Homer’s tripod walks; 

Here sighs a jar, and there a goose pie talks; 

Men prove with child, as pow’rful fancy works, 

And maids turn’d bottles, call aloud for corks.

Safe pass’d the Gnome through this fantastic band, 

A branch of healing spleenwort in his hand. 

Then thus address’d the pow’r: “Hail, wayward Queen! 

Who rule the sex to fifty from fifteen: 

Parent of vapours and of female wit, 

Who give th’ hysteric, or poetic fit, 

On various tempers act by various ways, 

Make some take physic, others scribble plays; 

Who cause the proud their visits to delay, 

And send the godly in a pet to pray. 

A nymph there is, that all thy pow’r disdains, 

And thousands more in equal mirth maintains. 

But oh! if e’er thy gnome could spoil a grace, 

Or raise a pimple on a beauteous face, 

Like citron waters matrons’ cheeks inflame, 

Or change complexions at a losing game; 

If e’er with airy horns I planted heads, 

Or rumpled petticoats, or tumbled beds, 

Or caus’d suspicion when no soul was rude, 

Or discompos’d the head-dress of a prude, 

Or e’er to costive lap-dog gave disease, 

Which not the tears of brightest eyes could ease: 

Hear me, and touch Belinda with chagrin; 

That single act gives half the world the spleen.”

The goddess with a discontented air 

Seems to reject him, though she grants his pray’r. 

A wondrous bag with both her hands she binds, 

Like that where once Ulysses held the winds; 

There she collects the force of female lungs, 

Sighs, sobs, and passions, and the war of tongues. 

A vial next she fills with fainting fears, 

Soft sorrows, melting griefs, and flowing tears. 

The Gnome rejoicing bears her gifts away, 

Spreads his black wings, and slowly mounts to day.

Sunk in Thalestris’ arms the nymph he found, 

Her eyes dejected and her hair unbound. 

Full o’er their heads the swelling bag he rent, 

And all the Furies issu’d at the vent. 

Belinda burns with more than mortal ire, 

And fierce Thalestris fans the rising fire. 

“Oh wretched maid!” she spread her hands, and cried, 

(While Hampton’s echoes, “Wretched maid!” replied) 

“Was it for this you took such constant care 

The bodkin, comb, and essence to prepare? 

For this your locks in paper durance bound, 

For this with tort’ring irons wreath’d around? 

For this with fillets strain’d your tender head, 

And bravely bore the double loads of lead? 

Gods! shall the ravisher display your hair, 

While the fops envy, and the ladies stare! 

Honour forbid! at whose unrivall’d shrine 

Ease, pleasure, virtue, all, our sex resign. 

Methinks already I your tears survey, 

Already hear the horrid things they say, 

Already see you a degraded toast, 

And all your honour in a whisper lost! 

How shall I, then, your helpless fame defend? 

‘Twill then be infamy to seem your friend! 

And shall this prize, th’ inestimable prize, 

Expos’d through crystal to the gazing eyes, 

And heighten’d by the diamond’s circling rays, 

On that rapacious hand for ever blaze? 

Sooner shall grass in Hyde Park Circus grow, 

And wits take lodgings in the sound of Bow; 

Sooner let earth, air, sea, to chaos fall, 

Men, monkeys, lap-dogs, parrots, perish all!”

She said; then raging to Sir Plume repairs, 

And bids her beau demand the precious hairs: 

(Sir Plume, of amber snuff-box justly vain, 

And the nice conduct of a clouded cane) 

With earnest eyes, and round unthinking face, 

He first the snuffbox open’d, then the case, 

And thus broke out—“My Lord, why, what the devil? 

Z——ds! damn the lock! ‘fore Gad, you must be civil! 

Plague on’t! ‘tis past a jest—nay prithee, pox! 

Give her the hair”—he spoke, and rapp’d his box.

“It grieves me much,” replied the peer again 

“Who speaks so well should ever speak in vain. 

But by this lock, this sacred lock I swear, 

(Which never more shall join its parted hair; 

Which never more its honours shall renew, 

Clipp’d from the lovely head where late it grew) 

That while my nostrils draw the vital air, 

This hand, which won it, shall for ever wear.” 

He spoke, and speaking, in proud triumph spread 

The long-contended honours of her head.

But Umbriel, hateful gnome! forbears not so; 

He breaks the vial whence the sorrows flow. 

Then see! the nymph in beauteous grief appears, 

Her eyes half-languishing, half-drown’d in tears; 

On her heav’d bosom hung her drooping head, 

Which, with a sigh, she rais’d; and thus she said:

“For ever curs’d be this detested day, 

Which snatch’d my best, my fav’rite curl away! 

Happy! ah ten times happy, had I been, 

If Hampton Court these eyes had never seen! 

Yet am not I the first mistaken maid, 

By love of courts to num’rous ills betray’d. 

Oh had I rather unadmir’d remain’d 

In some lone isle, or distant northern land; 

Where the gilt chariot never marks the way, 

Where none learn ombre, none e’er taste bohea! 

There kept my charms conceal’d from mortal eye, 

Like roses, that in deserts bloom and die. 

What mov’d my mind with youthful lords to roam? 

Oh had I stay’d, and said my pray’rs at home! 

‘Twas this, the morning omens seem’d to tell, 

Thrice from my trembling hand the patch-box fell; 

The tott’ring china shook without a wind, 

Nay, Poll sat mute, and Shock was most unkind! 

A Sylph too warn’d me of the threats of fate, 

In mystic visions, now believ’d too late! 

See the poor remnants of these slighted hairs! 

My hands shall rend what ev’n thy rapine spares: 

These, in two sable ringlets taught to break, 

Once gave new beauties to the snowy neck. 

The sister-lock now sits uncouth, alone, 

And in its fellow’s fate foresees its own; 

Uncurl’d it hangs, the fatal shears demands, 

And tempts once more thy sacrilegious hands. 

Oh hadst thou, cruel! been content to seize 

Hairs less in sight, or any hairs but these!”

Canto 5

She said: the pitying audience melt in tears, 

But Fate and Jove had stopp’d the Baron’s ears. 

In vain Thalestris with reproach assails, 

For who can move when fair Belinda fails? 

Not half so fix’d the Trojan could remain, 

While Anna begg’d and Dido rag’d in vain. 

Then grave Clarissa graceful wav’d her fan; 

Silence ensu’d, and thus the nymph began.

“Say, why are beauties prais’d and honour’d most, 

The wise man’s passion, and the vain man’s toast? 

Why deck’d with all that land and sea afford, 

Why angels call’d, and angel-like ador’d? 

Why round our coaches crowd the white-glov’d beaux, 

Why bows the side-box from its inmost rows? 

How vain are all these glories, all our pains, 

Unless good sense preserve what beauty gains: 

That men may say, when we the front-box grace: 

‘Behold the first in virtue, as in face!’ 

Oh! if to dance all night, and dress all day, 

Charm’d the smallpox, or chas’d old age away; 

Who would not scorn what housewife’s cares produce, 

Or who would learn one earthly thing of use? 

To patch, nay ogle, might become a saint, 

Nor could it sure be such a sin to paint. 

But since, alas! frail beauty must decay, 

Curl’d or uncurl’d, since locks will turn to grey, 

Since painted, or not painted, all shall fade, 

And she who scorns a man, must die a maid; 

What then remains but well our pow’r to use, 

And keep good humour still whate’er we lose? 

And trust me, dear! good humour can prevail, 

When airs, and flights, and screams, and scolding fail. 

Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll; 

Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.”

So spoke the dame, but no applause ensu’d; 

Belinda frown’d, Thalestris call’d her prude. 

“To arms, to arms!” the fierce virago cries, 

And swift as lightning to the combat flies. 

All side in parties, and begin th’ attack; 

Fans clap, silks rustle, and tough whalebones crack; 

Heroes’ and heroines’ shouts confus’dly rise, 

And bass, and treble voices strike the skies. 

No common weapons in their hands are found, 

Like gods they fight, nor dread a mortal wound.

So when bold Homer makes the gods engage, 

And heav’nly breasts with human passions rage; 

‘Gainst Pallas, Mars; Latona, Hermes arms; 

And all Olympus rings with loud alarms. 

Jove’s thunder roars, heav’n trembles all around; 

Blue Neptune storms, the bellowing deeps resound; 

Earth shakes her nodding tow’rs, the ground gives way; 

And the pale ghosts start at the flash of day!

Triumphant Umbriel on a sconce’s height 

Clapp’d his glad wings, and sate to view the fight: 

Propp’d on their bodkin spears, the sprites survey 

The growing combat, or assist the fray.

While through the press enrag’d Thalestris flies, 

And scatters death around from both her eyes, 

A beau and witling perish’d in the throng, 

One died in metaphor, and one in song. 

“O cruel nymph! a living death I bear,” 

Cried Dapperwit, and sunk beside his chair. 

A mournful glance Sir Fopling upwards cast, 

“Those eyes are made so killing”—was his last. 

Thus on Mæeander’s flow’ry margin lies 

Th’ expiring swan, and as he sings he dies.

When bold Sir Plume had drawn Clarissa down, 

Chloe stepp’d in, and kill’d him with a frown; 

She smil’d to see the doughty hero slain, 

But at her smile, the beau reviv’d again.

Now Jove suspends his golden scales in air, 

Weighs the men’s wits against the lady’s hair; 

The doubtful beam long nods from side to side; 

At length the wits mount up, the hairs subside.

See, fierce Belinda on the baron flies, 

With more than usual lightning in her eyes, 

Nor fear’d the chief th’ unequal fight to try, 

Who sought no more than on his foe to die. 

But this bold lord with manly strength endu’d, 

She with one finger and a thumb subdu’d: 

Just where the breath of life his nostrils drew, 

A charge of snuff the wily virgin threw; 

The Gnomes direct, to ev’ry atom just, 

The pungent grains of titillating dust. 

Sudden, with starting tears each eye o’erflows, 

And the high dome re-echoes to his nose.

“Now meet thy fate,” incens’d Belinda cried, 

And drew a deadly bodkin from her side. 

(The same, his ancient personage to deck, 

Her great great grandsire wore about his neck 

In three seal-rings; which after, melted down, 

Form’d a vast buckle for his widow’s gown: 

Her infant grandame’s whistle next it grew, 

The bells she jingled, and the whistle blew; 

Then in a bodkin grac’d her mother’s hairs, 

Which long she wore, and now Belinda wears.)

“Boast not my fall,” he cried, “insulting foe! 

Thou by some other shalt be laid as low. 

Nor think, to die dejects my lofty mind; 

All that I dread is leaving you benind! 

Rather than so, ah let me still survive, 

And burn in Cupid’s flames—but burn alive.”

“Restore the lock!” she cries; and all around 

“Restore the lock!” the vaulted roofs rebound. 

Not fierce Othello in so loud a strain 

Roar’d for the handkerchief that caus’d his pain. 

But see how oft ambitious aims are cross’d, 

The chiefs contend ‘till all the prize is lost! 

The lock, obtain’d with guilt, and kept with pain, 

In ev’ry place is sought, but sought in vain: 

With such a prize no mortal must be blest, 

So Heav’n decrees! with Heav’n who can contest?

Some thought it mounted to the lunar sphere, 

Since all things lost on earth are treasur’d there. 

There hero’s wits are kept in pond’rous vases, 

And beaux’ in snuff boxes and tweezercases. 

There broken vows and deathbed alms are found, 

And lovers’ hearts with ends of riband bound; 

The courtier’s promises, and sick man’s prayers, 

The smiles of harlots, and the tears of heirs, 

Cages for gnats, and chains to yoke a flea, 

Dried butterflies, and tomes of casuistry.

But trust the Muse—she saw it upward rise, 

Though mark’d by none but quick, poetic eyes: 

(So Rome’s great founder to the heav’ns withdrew, 

To Proculus alone confess’d in view) 

A sudden star, it shot through liquid air, 

And drew behind a radiant trail of hair. 

Not Berenice’s locks first rose so bright, 

The heav’ns bespangling with dishevell’d light. 

The Sylphs behold it kindling as it flies, 

And pleas’d pursue its progress through the skies.

This the beau monde shall from the Mall survey, 

And hail with music its propitious ray. 

This the blest lover shall for Venus take, 

And send up vows from Rosamonda’s lake. 

This Partridge soon shall view in cloudless skies, 

When next he looks through Galileo’s eyes; 

And hence th’ egregious wizard shall foredoom 

The fate of Louis, and the fall of Rome.

Then cease, bright nymph! to mourn thy ravish’d hair, 

Which adds new glory to the shining sphere! 

Not all the tresses that fair head can boast 

Shall draw such envy as the lock you lost. 

For, after all the murders of your eye, 

When, after millions slain, yourself shall die: 

When those fair suns shall set, as set they must, 

And all those tresses shall be laid in dust, 

This lock, the Muse shall consecrate to fame 

And ‘midst the stars inscribe Belinda’s name.

Pope, Alexander. “The Rape of the Lock: Canto 1.” 1717. Poetry Foundation.

Pope, Alexander. “The Rape of the Lock: Canto 2.” 1717. Poetry Foundation.

Pope, Alexander. “The Rape of the Lock: Canto 3.” 1717. Poetry Foundation.

Pope, Alexander. “The Rape of the Lock: Canto 4.” 1717. Poetry Foundation.

Pope, Alexander. “The Rape of the Lock: Canto 5.” 1717. Poetry Foundation.

Summary

Canto 1

The Latin epigraph translates as follows: “I did not wish to violate your locks, / but I am glad to have given that much to your prayers.”

The poem begins with a premonition of a grave offense committed against Belinda that will arise from a small action. The premonition is related by the sylph Ariel, who sends Belinda a vision while she sleeps. In the dream, Ariel appears as a young man who warns Belinda of the plights of feminine vanity. He attests to the presence of spiritual creatures interfering in the lives of women and states that sylphs may guide them astray. He, however, is a guardian sprite who seeks to warn her and says, “beware of all, but most beware of man!” (Line 114). Belinda is then awoken by her dog Shock. Upon waking, she forgets the cautions of her dream when she sees a love letter waiting for her. Belinda then prepares herself in the mirror, adorning herself with various accessories to enhance her beauty. All around her the spirits assist in this process.

Canto 2

Belinda arrives at the river Thames wearing a cross around her neck. She is the center of attention—her beauty captivates all other guests. She wears her hair with two curled locks down her neck. Her hair attracts the desire of the baron. In his chambers, he keeps an “altar of love” (Line 37) consisting of garters, gloves, and love letters from past affairs. He sets a love letter on fire, drops to his knees, and prays for his success in the conquest of Belinda. The spirits hear his prayer and grant half of his request. Meanwhile, Ariel prepares an army of sylphs and other spirits to protect Belinda. He charges 50 special sylphs to form a barrier around her dress. He has taken it upon himself to guard Shock. He warns that if any spirit neglects their duty, he will punish them with violence. The sylphs disperse across the boat, preparing for the event.

Canto 3

The boat lands at Hampton Court. The party continues with “one-upping” talk and other gossip. Belinda engages in the card game Ombre with two men, one of them being the baron. Under the watchful sylphs, Belinda begins the game with a strong start. The gameplay is related to war taking place on a velvet battlefield. As the game continues, Belinda’s favor is challenged by the baron, who makes a comeback. During the game’s last trick, Belinda wins by playing an ace. As the party begins to lull, coffee is served to liven the guests. The baron remembers his desire to obtain Belinda’s lock of hair. Clarissa, the baron’s co-conspirator, gives him a pair of scissors. He attempts to cut her hair three times without her noticing. Each time the sylphs prevent it. Finally, Ariel attempts to influence Belinda by entering her mind—only to find “an earthly lover lurking at her heart” (Line 144). Ariel gives up. During the baron’s final attempt, a sylph tries to block the scissors and is cut in half. The sylph comes back to life but has failed. Belinda’s hair is cut, and she screams. The baron proclaims a victory speech in which he loftily likens his success to the taking of Troy.

Canto 4

Belinda is devastated after the loss of hair. Umbriel, a melancholy sprite, descends to the underworld seeking the cave of Spleen. The cave is riddled with all sorts of magical instruments and oddities aimed to keep out intruders. Carrying a branch of spleenwort, he arrives safely. He finds the Queen of Spleen, accompanied by her two handmaids—the elderly Ill Nature and the young Affectation—and relates the story of Belinda. The queen seems not to care but then gifts him a bag of women’s sobs and a vial of tears. Umbriel returns and dumps the bag over Belinda’s head. Thalestris attempts to rally Belinda with an impassioned speech and implores her beau, Sir Plume, to demand of the baron to return Belinda’s lock. Sir Plume makes a feeble attempt, and the baron denies his request. Umbriel then breaks the vial over Belinda’s head and she falls even deeper into despair.

Canto 5

Along with Belinda, the other women of the party lament the loss of her hair. The baron refuses to return the lock despite numerous requests. Clarissa gives an emboldened speech, which questions why society values women’s beauty more than it values sense or good humor. She claims that since beauty so quickly fades, women should cultivate other long-lasting qualities of character. Her moralizing is met with disdain: Belinda frowns and Thalestris calls her a prude. A fight breaks out between the ladies and the gentlemen. Umbriel watches from afar in glee. Men die and are revived by the women’s smiles or frowns. Belinda attacks the baron, defeating him by throwing snuff into his face and weaponizing her bodkin. She demands the return of her hair, but the lock is nowhere to be found. The poem ends suggesting that the lock of hair ascended to the heavens and became a star, therefore providing Belinda with everlasting fame.