" I The next 70 lines are descriptive of the game of Ombre-one of Spanish origin, the name meaning "Man.' Forty cards are used, nine being dealt, the rest drawn for somewhat as in Pedro. The players are usually three in number; one makes the trump, and the other two combine against him. If either of them takes more tricks than he, he is defeated, has suffered codille (see line 92). The maker of trumps is "the man,' or "it." The order of the cards varies with the trump. The three high cards, always called spadille, manille, and basto, are "matadores"; that is, they will slay any other cards sent against them, as a matadore slays a bull. Spadille is always the ace of spades; manille is the seven, if a red suit is trump, or the two, if a black is trump; basto is the ace of clubs. Except as the aces are matadores, the face cards are all higher than they. Notice that in line 98 Belinda takes the ace of hearts with her king. Lines 30-43 indicate the value of the cards. Spadillio first, unconquerable lord! Led off two captive trumps and swept the board. 50 As many more Manillio forced to yield And marched a victor from the verdant field. Him Basto followed, but his fate more hard Gained but one trump and one plebeian card. With his broad sabre next, a chief in years, The hoary majesty of spades appears, Puts forth one manly leg, to sight revealed, The rest his many-coloured robe concealed. The rebel knave, who dares his prince engage, 59 Proves the just victim of his royal rage. E'en mighty Pam,2 that kings and queens o'erthrew, And mowed down armies in the fights of Loo, Sad chance of war! now destitute of aid, Falls undistinguished by the victor spade! Thus far both armies to Belinda yield; Now to the baron fate inclines the field. His warlike Amazon her host invades, The imperial consort of the crown of spades; The club's black tyrants first her victim died, Spite of his haughty mien, and barbarous pride. 70 And, of all monarchs, only grasps the globe? The baron now his diamonds pours apace; Th' embroidered king who shows but half his face, And his refulgent queen, with powers combined, Of broken troops an easy conquest find. Clubs, diamonds, hearts, in wild disorder seen, With throngs promiscuous strew the level green. 80 Thus when dispersed a routed army runs, Of Asia's troops, and Afric's sable sons, 2 Pam. The knave or "Jack" of clubs; in the game of Loo he is the highest card. 3 black tyrant. The king of clubs. Any trump would take any other non-trump card, the matadores being considered as trumps. With like confusion different nations fly, 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, 89 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 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. The peer now spreads the glittering forfex1 wide, T' inclose the lock; now joins it, to divide. 148 E'en then, before the fatal engine closed, A wretched sylph too fondly interposed; Fate urged the shears, and cut the sylph in twain, (But airy substance soon unites again).5 3 Scylla. Daughter of Nisus, king of Megara, who pulled from her father's head the golden (or purple) hair upon which the safety of the city depended. 4 forfex. Pair of scissors. 5 A humorous parallel to the epic treatment of the wounding of supernatural beings. The meeting points the sacred hair dis sever From the fair head, forever, and forever! Then flashed the living lightning from her eyes, And screams of horror rend th' affrighted skies. Not louder shrieks to pitying Heaven are cast, When husbands, or when lap-dogs breathe their last; Or when rich China vessels, fallen from high, In glittering 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, Or in a coach and six the British fair, As long as Atalantis1 shall be read, Or the small pillow grace a lady's bed, While visits shall be paid on solemn days, When numerous wax-lights in bright order blaze, While nymphs take treats, or assignations. give, So long my honour, name, and praise shall live! 170 What Time would spare, from steel re E'er felt such rage, resentment, and despair, 9 As thou, sad virgin, for thy ravished hair. For, that sad moment, when the sylphs withdrew And Ariel weeping from Belinda flew, Repaired to search the gloomy cave of Swift on his sooty pinions flits the gnome, And in a vapour reached the dismal dome. No cheerful breeze this sullen region knows, The dreaded east is all the wind that blows. 20 Who cause the proud their visits to delay, And thousands more in equal mirth maintains. But oh! if e'er thy gnome could spoil a grace, Or raise a pimple on a beauteous face, Like citron-waters matrons' cheeks inflame, Or change complexions at a losing game. Or caus'd suspicion when no soul was rude, 69 Or discompos'd the head-dress of a prude, Or e'er to costive lap-dog gave disease, Which not the tears of brightest eyes There she collects the force of female lungs, Sighs, sobs, and passions, and the war of tongues. 80 A vial next she fills with fainting fears, Soft sorrows, melting griefs, and flowing tears; The gnome rejoicing bears her gifts away, Spreads his black wings, and slowly mounts to day. Sunk in Thalestris's arm the nymph he found, Her eyes dejected and her hair unbound. Full o'er their heads the swelling bag he rent, And all the furies issued at the vent. 88 Belinda burns with more than mortal ire And fierce Thalestris fans the rising fire. "O wretched maid!" she spread her hands and cried, (While Hampton's echoes, "Wretched maid!" replied) "Was it for this you took such constant Gods! shall the ravisher display your hair, "Twill then be infamy to seem your friend! And shall this prize, th' inestimable prize, Exposed through crystal to the gazing |