Alexander Pope: Selected Poetry and Prose

Some thrid the mazy ringlets of her hair; Some hang upon the pendants of her ear: 140 With beating hearts the dire event they wa ...

First Ariel perched upon a Matador, Then each according to the rank they bore; For sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race, Ar ...

His giant limbs, in state unwieldy spread; That long behind he trails his pompous robe, And, of all monarchs, only grasps the gl ...

At once they gratify their scent and taste, And frequent cups prolong the rich repast. Straight hover round the fair her airy ba ...

A wretched sylph too fondly interposed; 150 Fate urged the shears, and cut the sylph in twain, (But airy substance soon unites a ...

Not Cynthia when her manteau’s pinned awry, E’er felt such rage, resentment, and despair, As thou, sad virgin! for thy ravished ...

Unnumbered throngs on every side are seen Of bodies changed to various forms by Spleen. Here living tea-pots stand, one arm held ...

Soft sorrows, melting griefs, and flowing tears. The gnome rejoicing bears her gifts away, Spreads his black wings, and slowly m ...

With earnest eyes, and round, unthinking face, He first the snuff-box opened, then the case, And then broke out—‘My Lord, why, w ...

Nay, Poll sat mute, and Shock was most unkind! A sylph too warned me of the threats of Fate, In mystic visions, now believed too ...

Nor could it sure be such a sin to paint. But since, alas! frail beauty must decay, Curled or uncurled, since locks will turn to ...

A mournful glance Sir Fopling upwards cast, ‘Those eyes are made so killing,’—was his last. Thus on Maeander’s flowery margin li ...

And burn in Cupid’s flames—but burn alive.’ ‘Restore the lock!’ she cries; and all around ‘Restore the lock!’ the vaulted roofs ...

Then cease, bright nymph! to mourn thy ravished hair, Which adds new glory to the shining sphere! Not all the tresses that fair ...

Some squire, perhaps, you take delight to rack; Whose game is whisk, whose treat a toast in sack; Who visits with a gun, present ...

calamities, they retired each to a several convent and consecrated the remainder of their days to religion. It was many years af ...

Oh name for ever sad! for ever dear! Still breathed in sighs, still ushered with a tear. I tremble too, where’er my own I find, ...

Nor wished an angel whom I loved a man. 70 Dim and remote the joys of saints I see; Nor envy them that Heaven I lose for thee. H ...

Canst thou forget what tears that moment fell, When, warm in youth, I bade the world farewell? 110 As with cold lips I kissed th ...

’Tis all blank sadness, or continual tears. See how the force of others’ prayers I try, (O pious fraud of amorous charity!) 150 ...