Rape of the Lock and Other Poems Quotes

“The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, and wretches hang that jurymen may dine.”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of Locke and Other Poems

“But now secure the painted vessel glides,   The sun-beams trembling on the floating tides:   While melting music steals upon the sky,   And soften'd sounds along the waters die; 50   Smooth flow the waves, the Zephyrs gently play,   Belinda smil'd, and all the world was gay.”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“Thrice rung the bell, the slipper knock'd the ground,   And the press'd watch return'd a silver sound.   Belinda still her downy pillow prest,   Her guardian SYLPH prolong'd the balmy rest:”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer;
Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike,
Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.”
― Alexander Pope, Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“Not with more glories, in th' etherial plain,
The sun first rises o'er the purpled main,
Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams
Launch'd on the bosom of the silver Thames.
Fair nymphs, and well-dress'd youths around her shone,
But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone.
On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,
Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore.
Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose,
Quick as her eyes, and as unfix'd as those:
Favours to none, to all she smiles extends;
Oft she rejects, but never once offends.
Bright as the sun, her eyes the gazers strike,
And, like the sun, they shine on all alike.
Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride,
Might hide her faults, if belles had faults to hide:
If to her share some female errors fall,
Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all.

This nymph, to the destruction of mankind,
Nourish'd two locks, which graceful hung behind
In equal curls, and well conspir'd to deck
With shining ringlets the smooth iv'ry neck.
Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains,
And mighty hearts are held in slender chains.
With hairy springes we the birds betray,
Slight lines of hair surprise the finney prey,
Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare,
And beauty draws us with a single hair.
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Erguvan deniz üstünde gökler katında,
İhtişamla yükselir ya güneş, saltanatında
Yoktur rahibesinden doğarak gümüş
Renkli Thames'in göğsüne yayılan ışınlardaki cümbüş.
Hoş giyimli delikanlılar, çok sayıda güzel kız
Arasında tüm bakışlar onun üstünde yalnız.
Ak gerdanından bir haç, öyle bir
Haç ki Yahudi görse öper, hayran olur kafir.
İşlek bir aklın işareti canlı bakışları
Gözleri fıldır fıldır, uçarı mı uçarı:
Kimseye iltifat yok, herkese gülümsüyor,
Çoğunluk reddediyor ama kimse ona küsmüyor.
Gözleri sanki güneş, değen gözün sahibi
Çarpılıyor, herkese eşit parlıyor yine güneş gibi.
Örtüyor kusurlarını o soylu rahatlık,
O kibirsiz şirinlik, kızların kusurları olursa artık:
Ama düşmüşse onun da payına bütün hanımlardan,
Yüzüne bakın, hepsini unutursunuz o an.

Bu perinin saçı insanlığın mahvı demek
Olan iki zarif bukle halinde ve birbirine denk
İki kavis çizerek dökülürdü, elbirliğiyle ışık oyunu
İçinde halka halka süsleyerek fildişi boynu.
Kölelerini Aşk işte bu labirentte bekletir,
Dağ gibi kalpleri bağlar ip incesi bir zincir.
Kuşları aldatmaya yarar kıldan tuzaklar,
İncecik tüylere kanar kapılır balıklar,
Bir kaküle teslim ederiz, erkekler, ülkemizi
Ve güzellik tek bir saç teliyle boğar bizi.”
― Alexander Pope, Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“Not louder shrieks to pitying heav'n are cast,
  When husbands, or when lapdogs breathe their last;
  Or when rich China vessels fall'n from high,
  In glitt'ring dust and painted fragments lie! 160”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“And screams of horror rend th' affrighted skies.
  Not louder shrieks to pitying heav'n are cast,
  When husbands, or when lapdogs breathe their last;
  Or when rich China vessels fall'n from high,
  In glitt'ring dust and painted fragments lie! 160”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“Z—ds! damn the lock! 'fore Gad, you must be civil!   Plague on't!'t is past a jest—nay prithee, pox!   Give her the hair"—he spoke, and rapp'd his box.”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“Honour forbid! at whose unrivall'd shrine 105   Ease, pleasure, virtue, all our sex resign.   Methinks already I your tears survey,   Already hear the horrid things they say,   Already see you a degraded toast,   And all your honour in a whisper lost! 110   How shall I, then, your helpless fame”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“The bodkin, comb, and essence to prepare?   For this your locks in paper durance bound,   For this with tort'ring irons wreath'd around? 100   For this with fillets strain'd your tender head,   And bravely bore the double loads of lead?”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“Roar'd for the handkerchief that caus'd his pain.   But see how oft ambitious aims are cross'd,   And chiefs contend 'till all the prize is lost!   The Lock, obtain'd with guilt, and kept with pain,   In ev'ry place is sought, but sought in vain: 110   With such a prize no mortal must be blest,   So heav'n decrees! with heav'n who can contest?”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“For who can move when fair Belinda fails?   Not half so fix'd the Trojan could remain, 5   While Anna begg'd and Dido rag'd in vain.   Then grave Clarissa graceful wav'd her fan;   Silence ensu'd, and thus the nymph began.”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“Soon as she spreads her hand, th' 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, 35   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; 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.”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“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, 25   Burns to encounter two advent'rous Knights,”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“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; 10   In various talk th' instructive hours they past,   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; 15   At ev'ry word a reputation dies.”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“This Nymph, to the destruction of mankind,   Nourish'd two Locks, which graceful hung behind 20   In equal curls, and well conspir'd to deck   With shining ringlets the smooth iv'ry neck.”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“Favours to none, to all she smiles extends;   Oft she rejects, but never once offends.”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“And now, unveil'd, the Toilet stands display'd,   Each silver Vase in mystic order laid.   First, rob'd in white, the Nymph intent adores,   With head uncover'd, the Cosmetic pow'rs.   A heav'nly image in the glass appears, 125   To that she bends, to that her eyes she rears;   Th' inferior Priestess, at her altar's side,   Trembling begins the sacred rites of Pride.   Unnumber'd treasures ope at once, and here”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“With varying vanities, from ev'ry part,   They shift the moving Toyshop of their heart; 100   Where wigs with wigs, with sword-knots sword-knots strive,   Beaux banish beaux, and coaches coaches drive.”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems

“Hang o'er the Box, and hover round the Ring.   Think what an equipage thou hast in Air, 45   And view with scorn two Pages and a Chair.”
― Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems