The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems Part 16

'74'

This formal opening of Ariel's address to his followers is a parody of a pa.s.sage in 'Paradise Lost', V, 600-601.

'75 spheres':

either "worlds" or in a more general sense "regions."

'79'

 

What are the "wandering orbs," and how do they differ from planets in l.

80?

'97 a wash':

a lotion for the complexion.

'105'

Diana, the virgin huntress, was in a peculiar sense the G.o.ddess of chast.i.ty.

'106 China jar':

the taste for collecting old china was comparatively new in England at this time. It had been introduced from Holland by Queen Anne's sister, Queen Mary, and was eagerly caught up by fas.h.i.+onable society.

'113 The drops':

the diamond earrings.

'118 the Petticoat':

the huge hoop skirt which had recently become fas.h.i.+onable. Addison, in a humorous paper in the 'Tatler' (No. 116), describes one as about twenty-four yards in circ.u.mference.

'128 bodkin':

a large needle.

'133 rivel'd':

an obsolete raiment of "obrivelled."

'133 Ixion':

according to cla.s.sical mythology Ixion was punished for his sins by being bound forever upon a whirling wheel.

'134 Mill':

the mill in which cakes of chocolate were ground up preparatory to making the beverage.

'138 orb in orb':

in concentric circles.

'139 thrid':

a variant form of "thread."

CANTO III

'3 a structure':

Hampton Court, a palace on the Thames, a few miles above London. It was begun by Wolsey, and much enlarged by William III. Queen Anne visited it occasionally, and cabinet meetings were sometimes held there. Pope insinuates (l. 6) that the statesmen who met in these councils were as interested in the conquest of English ladies as of foreign enemies.

'8'

Tea was still in Queen Anne's day a luxury confined to the rich. It cost, in 1710, from twelve to twenty-eight s.h.i.+llings per pound.

'9 The heroes and the nymphs':

the boating party which started for Hampton Court in Canto II.

'17'

Snuff-taking had just become fas.h.i.+onable at this time. The practice is said to date from 1702, when an English admiral brought back fifty tons of snuff found on board some Spanish s.h.i.+ps which he had captured in Vigo Bay.

In the 'Spectator' for August 8, 1711, a mock advertis.e.m.e.nt is inserted professing to teach "the exercise of the snuff-box according to the most fas.h.i.+onable airs and motions," and in the number for April 4, 1712, Steele protests against "an impertinent custom the fine women have lately fallen into of taking snuff."

'22 dine':

the usual dinner hour in Queen Anne's reign was about 3 P.M. Fas.h.i.+onable people dined at 4, or later. This allowed the fas.h.i.+onable lady who rose at noon time to do a little shopping and perform "the long labours of the toilet."