83-86, is that the gnomes fill the girls' minds with hopes of a
splendid marriage and so induce them to "deny love.
splendid marriage and so induce them to "deny love.
Alexander Pope
'the ring':
the drive in Hyde Park, where the ladies of society took the air.
'46 a chair':
a sedan chair in which ladies used to be carried about. Why is Belinda
told to scorn it?
'50'
What is the meaning of "vehicles" in this line?
'56 Ombre':
the fashionable game of cards in Pope's day. See his account of a game
in Canto III and the notes on that passage.
'57-67'
See 'Introduction', p. 85.
'69-70'
Compare 'Paradise Lost', I, 423-431.
'79'
conscious of their face: proud of their beauty.
'81 These':
the gnomes who urge the vain beauties to disdain all offers of love and
play the part of prudes.
'85 garters, stars, and coronets':
the garter is the badge of the Knights of the Garter, an order founded
by Edward III, to which only noble princes and noblemen of the highest
rank were admitted. "Stars" are the jeweled decorations worn by members
of other noble orders. "Coronets" are the inferior crowns worn by
princes and nobles, not by sovereigns.
'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.
