The knave of diamonds tries his wily arts,
  And wins (oh shameful chance!) the queen of hearts. 
  At this the blood the virgin’s cheek forsook,
  A livid paleness spreads o’er all her look;
  She sees, and trembles at th’ approaching ill,
  Just in the jaws of ruin, and codille. 
  And now (as oft in some distempered state)
  On one nice trick depends the general fate. 
  An ace of hearts steps forth; the king unseen
  Lurked in her hand, and mourned his captive queen: 
  He springs to vengeance with an eager pace,
  And falls like thunder on the prostrate ace. 
  The nymph exulting fills with shouts the sky;
  The walls, the woods, and long canals reply.

  Oh thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate,
  Too soon dejected, and too soon elate. 
  Sudden, these honours shall be snatched away,
  And cursed forever this victorious day.

  For lo! the board with cups and spoons is crowned,
  The berries crackle, and the mill turns round;
  On shining altars of Japan they raise
  The silver lamp; the fiery spirits blaze;
  From silver spouts the grateful liquors glide,
  While China’s earth receives the smoking tide: 
  At once they gratify their scent and taste,
  And frequent cups, prolong the rich repast. 
  Straight hover round the fair her airy band;
  Some, as she sipped, the fuming liquor fanned,
  Some o’er her lap their careful plumes displayed,
  Trembling, and conscious of the rich brocade. 
  Coffee (which makes the politician wise,
  And see through all things with his half-shut eyes)
  Sent up in vapours to the baron’s brain
  New stratagems the radiant lock to gain. 
  Ah, cease, rash youth! desist ere ’tis too late,
  Fear the just gods, and think of Scylla’s fate! 
  Changed to a bird, and sent to flit in air,
  She dearly pays for Nisus’ injured hair!

  But when to mischief mortals bend their will,
  How soon they find fit instruments of ill! 
  Just then Clarissa drew with tempting grace
  A two-edged weapon from her shining case: 
  So ladies in romance assist their knight,
  Present the spear, and arm him for the fight. 
  He takes the gift with reverence, and extends
  The little engine on his fingers’ ends;
  This just behind Belinda’s neck he spread,
  As o’er the fragrant steams she bends her head. 
  Swift to the lock a thousand sprites repair,
  A thousand wings, by turns, blow back the hair;
  And thrice they twitched the diamond in her ear;
  Thrice she looked back, and thrice the foe drew near. 
  Just in that instant, anxious Ariel sought
  The close recesses of the virgin’s thought;
  As on the nosegay in her breast reclined,
  He watched th’ ideas rising in her mind,
  Sudden he viewed, in spite of all her art,
  An earthly lover lurking at her heart. 
  Amazed, confused, he found his power expired,
  Resigned to fate, and with a sigh retired.