1. Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

3. OF Man’s First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, Sing Heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That Shepherd, who first taught the chosen Seed, In the Beginning how the Heav'ns and Earth Rose out of Chaos: Or if Sion Hill Delight thee more, and Siloa's Brook that flow'd Fast by the Oracle of God; I thence Invoke thy aid to my adventrous Song, That with no middle flight intends to soar Above th' Aonian Mount, while it pursues Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhyme. Paradise Lost, 1.1-16

4. What dire Offence from am'rous Causes springs, What mighty Contests rise from trivial Things, I sing-This verse to CARYL, Muse! is due; This, ev'n Belinda may vouchsafe to view: Slight is the Subject, but not so the Praise, If She inspire, and He approve, my Lays. Say what strange Motive, Goddess! cou'd compel A well-bred Lord t'assault a gentle Belle? Oh say what stranger Cause, yet unexplor'd, Cou'd make a gentle Belle reject a Lord? In tasks so bold, can little Men engage, And in soft Bosoms, dwell such mighty Rage? Sol through white Curtains shot a tim'rous Ray, And ope'd those Eyes that must eclipse the Day: Now Lap-dogs give themselves the rouzing Shake, And sleepless Lovers, just at Twelve, awake: Rape of the Lock, 1.1-16

5. Some Echoes of Paradise Lost in The Rape of the Lock 1.1-12Epic invocations 1.23-44 1.105-14 2.11-18 2.29-34 2.73-100 3.147-52 4.11-24 5.71-74

6. Arabella Fermor