Rape of the Lock Canto 3

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 3

BY ALEXANDER POPE

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?"

 

Alexander Pope

Alexander Pope was born in London on 21^st may 1688. He was an English poet and Satirist. His well-known works were “The Rape of the Lock”, “The Dunciad” and “An Essay on Criticism.”  He belongs to catholic faith, Pope’s education was affected by the Church of England and the Catholics were banned from teaching or attending a university.  Pope was taught by his aunt and went to two Roman Catholic schools in London.  He mostly educated himself by reading the works of satirists Horace and Juvenal, the epic poets Homer and Virgil.  He studied French, Italian, Latin and Greek.  He is the second best quoted author after Shakespeare. His famous quote such as “To err is human; to forgive, divine” quite common among all.  He suffered with Pott Disease, a type of tuberculosis that affects the spine, which stunted his growth and he has severe hunchback.  Pope’s health never improved. His physician on the day of his death told that he was better, but Pope replied: here am I, dying of a hundred good symptoms.  He succumbed to death at this villa on 30^th may 1744, but he received his last religious rites the day before from the Catholic Church. 

 

Canto

Canto is a part in a long narrative or epic poem.  It consists of five or more lines such, as a stanza.  The word Canto originates from the Latin word cantus, means “song.” It could be chanted by a minstrel at one sitting. The name canto was first adopted by the Italian poets Dante Matteo Boiardo, and Ludovico Ariosto.    A canto is a long form and contains a story like a story book. The meter and rhythm of the canto express the stressed and unstressed syllables. Cantos gives introduction to a poem. It makes the readers to understand the important events in the poem.

 

Summary of the Rape of the Lock canto 3

The canto highlights the pleasures of the ladies and gentlemen at the royal court.  It says about a card game “Ombre” the poet by describing the game, the description gives a picture of epic combat and thereby brings out the life at court which is self-centered. Finally it talks about the cutting of the lock of hair of Belinda and the Baron claims that he is worthy to be victorious. The whole canto goes around the Hampton court, game of ombre and snipping of the lock.

Detail Analysis

“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”;

 

The whole canto is divided into certain section for a detail analysis. So that makes easy for a good understanding.

In this stanza the poet gives details of the beautiful environment of the Hampton court. It is next to the lovely Thames.  The fields are full of flowers. The Hampton Court stands majestically among this beautiful surroundings.  This is the place where Britain’s statesmen gather to foreshadow the fall of tyrants of foreign lands. They also discuss the fall of women in fashionable society.  Pope presents a different society where they enjoy the pleasures of gossiping about everything from social issues to the Queen to the décor.

 

“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”;

 

This the palace where Queen Anne ruler of the three kingdoms consults her advisers and sometime she drinks tea.  All the fashionable young men and women gather to enjoy social gatherings. They talk about parties and social event with great interest. Pope in this passage brings out the less importance of things of the court. All the matters of great value and less importance ones are discussed in this court with fashionable society with a cup of tea.

 

“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.”

 

A detail description of the fashionable society is well brought our here.  The lords and the ladies talk about importance of British Queen and some other describes the beauty of the curtain from India. Another section of the party discuss about the intention and deeds of other people.  They are judgmental in criticizing others.  Pope pictures the life style of the Lords and Ladies in the Court.  This chatting is for their pleasures and leads nowhere. They use snuff and fan to be chilled, sing and laugh and staring at others are some of the behaviours described by the poet.

 

“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.”

 

In this passage the meeting continues, the afternoon passes and the sun is set slant. The hungry judges who are eager to take their meal sign in haste the final verdict on poor people. So that they can take their meals without any delay.  Pope says that this place gives importance to the personal greed more than justice and mercy.  Business men have come back to join the party and also the young women get ready to enjoy the party. The darker side of the judges are brought out here. They give importance for the meals not to the affected victims.

 

“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”.

Belinda one of the guest among the party sits with two gentlemen to decide their fate keeps her cards to play the game of Ombre. (It is a 17^th century trick taking card game for three players.) Each player prepares to play and takes nine cards each. The word doom exaggerates to bring comic effect to the canto. This passage too brings out the triviality of the court life of lords and ladies.

“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”.

 

As soon as she gets ready and spreads her cards on the table, the sylphs (an imaginary spirit of the air.) come and sits on the important card.  Ariel on the other hand sits on the Ace of spades which has the highest value and after him according to the importance they are placed. Sylphs still keep in mind their rank as they are women.  They know the status of women in the society.

 

“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;”

 

In this passage the poet describes the cards.  For him they look like war soldiers.  The four kings of spades, clubs, hearts and diamonds with white whiskers and forked beards.  And there are four beautiful queens who each carries flower in their hands to show the symbol of their graceful power.  There are four knaves who wear caps and carry a spear and battle axe in their hands.   The poet gives a feeling of anxiety to the readers to get ready for a battle.

 

“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.”

 

Pretty description of the card game in this passage.  The poet looks and imagines the game as war and says bright colored troops come out to face the battle on the velvet card table. Now Belinda focuses on her game and decides the spades to draw forth. She declares that spades will be trumps. (Matadors refers to the three more cards of Ombre)   again she plays her spades and clubs, the black suits of strongest cards like dark African warriors.  They are compared to dark forces of power.

 

“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.”

 

First card, the “Spadillo”, she captured two trumps and cleared the board. Belinda wins the first game.  Her next card the “Manillo” is quite successful for Belinda.  She wins again two spades, two more winnings on the card table for Belinda. Her third card the “Basto” is less successful.  She plays ace of clubs,but this card took just one trump card and one plebian card. The game goes well for Belinda so far.  The card game represents the epic struggle between mortals and gods.

 

“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.”

 

Now Belinda plays the king of spades who carries a short sword. He appers with one leg and the other is hidden by his multi colored robe.  The knave who rebel his king becomes a victim of h is royal anger.

 

“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.”

 

The knave of clubs which is a powerful card of the games of Loo could over throw kings and queens and even the whole armies. It could fall to the kinds of spades a sad victim of war.

so far Belinda plays well and winning against the two men.  Now the Baron decides to fix the battle. He focuses more strongly on the game.

 

“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;”

 

Now the queen of spades of the Baron like a warrior invades Belinda’s army of cards.  The first fall of victim of the queen of spades was Belinda’s king of clubs in spite of his arrogance. The poet describes the game so well for the enjoyment of the readers.  Now the game is in the Baron’s court.  What use is his crown when his limbs are entangles in a heap on the ground. The Baron dominates the game. His queen of Spades beats Belinda’s King of Clubs.

 

“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.”

 

The Baron’s robes trail behind him but he manages to hold it firmly. Now the Baron plays his diamond cards and upset the situation on the table. The Baron plays his high valued diamonds who is in his half face. And the shining queen of diamonds can defeat Belinda”s cards easily.

 

“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”,

 

Belinda’s clubs, diamonds and hearts are spread out in random over the table. They are portrayed as defeated army of troops from Asia and Africa.  They are scattered over the table just as the confused and defeated army of different nations and various habits wearing different uniforms.  The poet increases the tension among the readers.  

 

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;

 

He continues his comparison of the battle of game to the struggle of the soldiers.  He says the wounded soldiers fall in in heaps as they are disunited.  They are all conquered.  The Baron even wins Belinda’s   queen of Hearts with his Knave of Spades. At this point Belinda turns into pale in fear as the game is slipping slowly from her.

 

 

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:

 

Belinda could feel the situation and she trembles as the game is going to ruin and she is going to face defeat in the Ombre. Now the poet keeps the turning point.  As it happens among the kingdoms.  History depends on one Great trick. The Baron plays his Ace of Hearts but Belinda patiently holds the King of Hearts in her hand, mourning his captured 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!

 

Now Belinda’s turn, she plays her King of Hearts and it fell like thunder on the downward facing Ace.  Belinda wins again as the game ends there.  She shouted with joy so loudly that the walls, woods and the water and long canals at the east front of the palace echoed. The Poet says human are thoughtless and blind to future. They rejoice and mourn too soon.

 

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.

 

Very fast these honors will fade away this victorious day will be a curse forever.  Look the side board is filled with cups and spoons.  The coffee berries crackle as they are roasted and grounded on the shining table from Japan.  There are silver lamp with bright flames to heat the coffee.

 

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,

 

Now the enjoyment starts.  The hot coffee and milk are poured from silver spouts into coffee cups made of Chinese porcelain. The Lords and the Ladies enjoy the smell and the taste of the coffee and they drink several cups.  The sylphs hover around the beautiful Belinda.  Some fanned the hot coffee as she sipped it.

 

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.

 

Some spread their wings carefully across her lap so her rich brocade of her dress will not get spoilt by the coffee. In general coffee make politicians wiser so that they can see everything even with their half-shut eyes.  The smell of the coffee sent up into the Baron’s mind new plans to get the shining lock of Belinda’s hair.  He wants to play a prank with Belinda.  May be the poet wants to say that this is part of their enjoyment of the court.

 

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!

 

The unwise young man could not stop before it’s too late.  He does not feel fear for the punishment of the gods and he forgets to remember the fate of Scylla. (In Greek mythology, Scylla is a legendary monster who lives on the side of water. She has a tail and dog heads sprouting from her body. She plucked out a lock of hair of her father, King Nisus to give to the enemy Minos who she loved.) Scylla was changed into a bird as a punishment and sent into air, she paid dearly for stealing her father’s hair. But when human decided to make mischief they would quickly find a way to do what they want.

 

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;

 

Just then, Clarrisa took a pair of scissor from her bag. (Clarrisa helps the Baron to show her affection to him) in the same way ladies belong to medieval Romantic period help their knight present the spear and help him to fight.  Now the mischievous Baron took the scissor from Clarrisa gracefully as a gift and opens it with his fingers’ ends. Pope wants to show the behaviour and life style of the nobles at the party.

 

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.

 

The Baron spreads the scissors behind Belinda’s neck when she bends to taste the sweet smelling coffee. Swiftly thousand Sylph run towards her hair and try to blow to lock of hair back.  They three times twitch her diamond earrings to warn her.  She looks back three times and thrice the enemy comes closer to her to snip the lock.

 

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.

 

Just at that time anxious Ariel comes closer to Belinda to look into her mind her thoughts.  As he leaned against the tiny bunch of flowers at her breast, he could see her ideas of her mind.  Suddenly he saw in spite of all her effort to hide it a human lover is lurking in her mind.

 

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;

 

Ariel is so confused to see Belinda’s thoughts to an earthly lover. So he decides he has no more power to protect her.  He goes off leaving Belinda to her fate. The Baron comes closer to Belinda with the scissor to snip off the lock.  Now he closes the scissors to cut the lock from her head.  But before the scissors close the poor Sylph got caught in between the two blades of the scissors.

 

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.

 

Fate forced the blades to close and cut the Sylph into two but Aerial with his power soon unites again without vanishing completely. Now comes the turning point, the Baron cuts the lock of hair from Belinda’s head for ever. He wants to humiliate her. Belinda realizes her situation and her eyes flashed in anger like lightning and she screamed with horror to frighten the 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!

 

Women do not scream louder during those period where they are supposed to be timid and gentle even if their husband or lap dogs die, or when a China vessels fell from high into pieces and in glittering dust, now the Baron for his turn shouts in joy and says, “ now I deserve to wear a victor’s laurel crown on my head, 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,

 

The Baron continues his joy in claiming that his name would live as long as fish swim in rivers, birds delight in flying or beautiful British women driven in the park in coaches drawn by six horses. (Atlantis is a fictional Island mentioned in Plato’s works), as long as people read the New Atlantis or ladies keep small pillows in their beds. And the ladies receive visits while they are in bed and as long as numerous wax candles burn brightly.

 

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;

In this passage too, the poet continues the joy of the Baron. He says as long as young women attend parties and dates with young men my name will live forever. What time cannot resolve has been destroyed by a pair of scissors.  Even monuments die just like mere mortal men who succumb to fate.  Weapons made of steel could destroy the wall of Troy which were built by the gods and made to dust the imperial towers 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?"

 

The Baron shouts in joy “the weapons of steel ruins the work of proud people and their triumphal arches to the ground.  So it is no wonder that Belinda that your hair should feel the conquering power of the unbeatable steel.

 

Conclusion

Thus the poem comes to an end with the scream of Belinda. The poet Pope starts with a get to gather at Hampton court and describes their behaviour to show the triviality of the lords and ladies of the court. How merciful they are towards the poor victims.

Pope portrays Belinda as an epic hero and explain metaphorically the game as a real battle.  Belinda approaches the game with masculine power.  During the game her approach and tricks are very focused and ambitious.  Pope brings Belinda’s ambition to be recognized through this game.  She has been viewed as a cunning and dominates the game just as a general control his battalions. Belinda’s masculinity is further expressed in her shouts of joy over her victory.  She rejoice and relish her victory over the Baron’s defeat.  Pope compares the battle of Belinda to the battle of Greek and Trojan heroes.

Second part of the canto deals with the protection of Belinda’s lock of hair.  The Baron’s three attempts to cut her hair and finally, he completes his mission successfully.  The canto ends by Pope’s comparison of Belinda’s victory to the conquest of Troy.  Clarissa’s help to Baron with the scissor mirrors the tradition of lover’s farewell before battle.  Clarissa’s help to the Baron suggests that women become the weapon against women. Pope wants to show and criticize the typical standard of women who do anything to attract a husband without a compromise.

The canto is a good example for heroic couplet.  The use of zeugma (a figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses. For example “she broke his car and his heart”) in this canto Pope says about the Hampton court and the queen sometimes takes counsel and sometimes tea. This phrase gives two different meaning in two different ways. Pope brings a serious issues of trials and criminals and their execution which are ignored and done in haste as the judges are busy with parties.

Thank you