POPE. 359 



The keynote of the poem is here struck, and we are able to 

 put ourselves in tune with it. It is not a parody of the 

 heroic style, but only a setting it in satirical juxtaposition 

 with cares and events and modes of thought with which it 

 is in comical antipathy, and while it is not degraded, they 

 are shown in their triviality. The &quot; clouded cane,&quot; as com 

 pared with the Homeric spear, indicates the difference of 

 scale, the lower plane of emotions and passions. The 

 opening of the action, too, is equally good : 



Sol through white curtains shot a timorous ray, 

 And oped those eyes that must eclipse the day, 

 Now lapdogs give themselves the rousing shake, 

 And sleepless lovers just at twelve awake ; 

 Thrice rung the bell, the slipper knocked the ground, 

 And the pressed watch returned a silver sound.&quot; 



The mythology of the Sylphs is full of the most fanciful 

 wit ; indeed, wit infused with fancy is Pope s peculiar 

 merit. The Sylph is addressing Belinda : 



&quot; Know, then, unnumbered 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. 

 As now your own our beings were of old, 

 And once enclosed in woman s beauteous mould ; 

 Think not, when woman s transient breath is fled, 

 That all her vanities at once are dead ; 

 Succeeding vanities she still regards, 

 And though she plays no more, o erlooks the cards. 

 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 nymphs 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.&quot; 



And the contrivance by which Belinda is awakened is also 

 perfectly in keeping with all the rest of the machinery : 



