Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

212
HAMPTON COURT
thebest-conditioned creaturesimaginable. For theysay
any mortals may enjoy the most intimate familiarities
with these gentle spirits, upon a condition very easy to
all true Adepts, an inviolate preservation of Chastity."
But Elise accepts them as a part of her religion.
" Elle croyait aux Sylphes et bruloit d'envie d'en avoir
un." The transition from " The Rape of the Lock"
to " Le Mari Sylphe " is an easy one. In both there
is the charm which invests the Hampton Court of the
prosy Anne and the phlegmatic George of Denmark
with an original air of fanciful mystification — a " je
ne sais quoi d'aerien," as Marmontel says.
If we read the espieglerie of Marmontel into the
witty scheme of Pope, we have a clear impression of
what the court beauties and the beaux thought of
the " Rape of the Lock." So " Beauty draws us with
a single hair." Belinda's locks, nourished to the
destruction of mankind, allure the Baron; and the
expedition to Hampton Court furnishes the occasion
for the bold attempt. It is the home of scandal and
of wit, of beaux' audacity, and of the triumphs of the
fair: — " Hither the heroes and the nymphs resort,
To taste awhile thepleasures of a Court;
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 charmingIndian 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,andallthat."