The Rape of the Lock
In Chapter 5 of The Story Girl, the King family’s hired boy Peter goes to church with them for the first time. Uncle Roger teases
“‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’ What can have induced you to turn church-goer, Peter, when all Olivia’s gentle persuasions were of no avail? The old, old argument I suppose–’beauty draws us with a single hair.’ ”
Uncle Roger looked quizzically at Felicity. We did not know what his quotations meant, but we understood he thought Peter was going to church because of Felicity. Felicity tossed her head.
“It isn’t my fault that he’s going to church,” she said snappishly. “It’s the Story Girl’s doings.”
The Rape of the Lock
Alexander Pope
excerpt from Canto II
This Nymph, to the destruction of mankind,
Nourish’d two Locks, which graceful hung behind
In equal curls, and well conspir’d to deck
With shining ringlets the smooth iv’ry neck.
Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains,
And mighty hearts are held in slender chains.
With hairy springes we the birds betray,
Slight lines of hair surprise the finny prey,
Fair tresses man’s imperial race ensnare,
And beauty draws us with a single hair.
The entire poem is available at Project Gutenberg.
