Alexander Pope: Selected Poetry and Prose

False steps but help them to renew the race, As, after stumbling, jades will mend their pace. What crowds of these, impenitently ...

Generous converse; a soul exempt from pride; And love to praise, with reason on his side? Such once were critics; such the happy ...

And is himself that great sublime he draws. 680 Thus long succeeding critics justly reigned, Licence repressed, and useful laws ...

Yet some there were, among the sounder few Of those who less presumed, and better knew, 720 Who durst assert the juster ancient ...

With wit well-natured, and with books well-bred; His heart, his mistress and his friend did share, His time, the Muse, the witty ...

Aim not at joy, but rest content with ease. The gods, to curse Pamela with her prayers, Gave the gilt coach and dappled Flanders ...

Unlock your springs, and open all your shades. Granville commands; your aid, O Muses, bring! What Muse for Granville can refuse ...

Succeeding monarchs hear the subjects’ cries, Nor saw displeased the peaceful cottage rise. Then gathering flocks on unknown mou ...

Successive study, exercise, and ease. He gathers health from herbs the forest yields, And of their fragrant physic spoils the fi ...

Paints the green forests and the flowery plains. 120 Where Peace descending bids her olives spring, And scatters blessings from ...

it has afforded several prospects of my danger, and given me an advantage not very common to young men, that the attractions of ...

The Rape of the Lock An heroi-comical poem To Mrs Arabella Fermor Madam, It will be in vain to deny that I have some regard for ...

but the sylphs, whose habitation is in the air, are the best-conditioned creatures imaginable. For they say any mortals may enjo ...

Thrice rung the bell, the slipper knocked the ground, And the pressed watch returned a silver sound. Belinda still her downy pil ...

And love of ombre, after death survive. For when the fair in all their pride expire, To their first elements their souls retire: ...

What tender maid but must a victim fall To one man’s treat, but for another’s ball? When Florio speaks, what virgin could withst ...

And all Arabia breathes from yonder box. The tortoise here and elephant unite, Transformed to combs, the speckled and the white. ...

With shining ringlets the smooth ivory neck. Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains, And mighty hearts are held in slender ...

Transparent forms, too fine for mortal sight, Their fluid bodies half dissolved in light. Loose to the wind their airy garments ...

To change a flounce, or add a furbelow. 100 ‘This day, black omens threat the brightest fair That e’er deserved a watchful spiri ...