While China's earth receives the smoking tide: 110 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, 115 Trembling, and conscious of the rich brocade. Coffee (which makes the politician wise, And see through all things with his half-shut eyes)[442] Sent up in vapours to the baron's brain New stratagems, the radiant lock to gain. 120 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![443] But when to mischief mortals bend their will, 125 How soon they find fit instruments of ill![444] 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. 130 He takes the gift with rev'rence, 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.[445] Swift to the lock a thousand sprites repair, 135 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.[446] Just in that instant, anxious Ariel sought The close recesses of the virgin's thought: 140 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 pow'r expired, 145 Resigned to fate, and with a sigh retired. The peer now spreads the glitt'ring forfex wide, T' inclose the lock; now joins it, to divide. Ev'n then, before the fatal engine closed, A wretched sylph too fondly interposed; 150 Fate urged the shears, and cut the sylph in twain, (But airy substance soon unites again,)[447] The meeting points the sacred hair dissever From the fair head, for ever, and for ever! Then flashed the living lightning from her eyes, 155 And screams of horror rend th' affrighted skies. Not louder shrieks to pitying heav'n are cast, When husbands, or when lap-dogs breathe their last; Or when rich china vessels fall'n from high, In glitt'ring dust, and painted fragments lie! 160 "Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine," (The victor cried,) "the glorious prize is mine! While fish in streams, or birds delight in air,[448]