the rape of the locke - sylphs / emptiness

the busy sylphs surround their darling care, these set the head

and those divide the hair and betty's praised for labours not her own

whatever spirit careless of his charge his post neglects or leaves the fair at large

shall feel sharp vengeance soon overtake his sins, be stopped in vials, or transfixed with pins

beaux banish beaux and coaches coaches drive

oh blind to the truth! the sylphs contrive it all

o wretched maid! she spreads her hands and cried

while hampton's echoe's cried, wretched maid replied

on the rich quilts sinks with becoming woe

wrapped in a gown for sickness and for show

a heavenly image in the glass appears

to that she bends, to that her eyes she rears

sudden he viewed in spite of all her art

an earthly lover lurking at her heart

amazed, confused he found his powers expired

resigned to fate and with a single sigh retired