Poetry. Alexander Pope

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       Belinda now, whom thirst of fame invites,

       Burns to encounter two adventurous knights,

       At ombre singly to decide their doom,

       And swells her breast with conquests yet to come.

       Straight the three bands prepare in arras to join,

       Each band the number of the sacred Nine. 30

       Soon as she spreads her hand, the aërial 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 revered,

       With hoary whiskers and a forky beard;

       And four fair Queens, whose hands sustain a flower,

       Th' expressive emblem of their softer power; 40

       Four Knaves in garbs succinct, a trusty band,

       Caps on their heads, and halberts in their hand;

       And particolour'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. 50

       As many more Manillio forced 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. 60

       Even 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,

       The imperial consort of the crown of Spades.

       The Club's black tyrant first her victim died,

       Spite of his haughty mien, and barbarous pride: 70

       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;

       The embroider'd King who shows but half his face,

       And his refulgent Queen, with powers combined,

       Of broken troops an easy conquest find.

       Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild disorder seen,

       With throngs promiscuous strew the level green. 80

       Thus when dispersed a routed army runs,

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

       With like confusion different nations fly,

       Of various habit and of various dye;

       The pierced 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; 90

       She sees, and trembles at the 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 general 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. 100

       O thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate,

       Too soon dejected, and too soon elate.

       Sudden these honours shall be snatch'd away,

       And cursed 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: 110

       At once they gratify their scent and taste,

       And frequent cups prolong the rich repast.

       Straight hover round the fair her airy СКАЧАТЬ