No More Learning

'86 "Your Grace"':

the title bestowed in England on a duchess--The idea in this passage,
ll. 83-86, is that the gnomes fill the girls' minds with hopes of a
splendid marriage and so induce them to "deny love. "


'94 impertinence':

purposeless flirtation.


'97-98 Florio . . . Damon':

poetic names for fine gentlemen; no special individuals are meant.


'100' Why is a woman's heart called a "toy-shop"?


'101 Sword-knots':

tassels worn at the hilts of swords. In Pope's day every gentleman
carried a sword, and these sword-knots were often very gay.


'105 who thy protection claim':

what is the exact meaning of his phrase?


'108 thy ruling Star':

the star that controls thy destinies, a reference to the old belief in
astrology.


'115 Shock':

Belinda's pet dog. His name would seem to show that he was a
rough-haired terrier.


'118'

Does this line mean that Belinda had never seen a billet-doux before?
'119 Wounds, Charms, and Ardors':

the usual language of a love-letter at this time.


'124 the Cosmetic pow'rs':

the deities that preside over a lady's toilet. Note the playful satire
with which Pope describes Belinda's toilet as if it were a religious
ceremony. Who is "th' inferior priestess" in l. 127?


'131 nicely':

carefully.


'134 Arabia':

famous for its perfumes.


'145 set the head':

arrange the head-dress.


'147 Betty':

Belinda's maid.



CANTO II

'4 Launch'd':

embarked.


'25 springes':

snares.


'26 the finny prey':

a characteristic instance of Pope's preference or circumlocution to a
direct phrase.


'35-36'

A regular formula in classical epics. In Virgil (XI, 794-795) Phoebus
grants part of the prayer of Arruns; the other part he scatters to the
light winds.


'38 vast French Romances':

these romances were the customary reading of society in Pope's day when
there were as yet no English novels. Some of them were of enormous
length.