Quotes from The Rape of the Lock

What mighty contests rise from trivial things.

The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, / And wretches hang that jurymen may dine.

Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey, / Dost sometimes counsel take — and sometimes tea.

Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.

If to her share some female errors fall, look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all.

If to her share some female errors fall, / Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all.

Not louder shrieks to pitying heav'n are cast, / When husbands, or when lapdogs, breathe their last.

At every word a reputation dies.

Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare, / And beauty draws us with a single hair.

Puffs, powders, patches, bibles, billet-doux.

On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore / Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore.

Then flashed the living lightning from her eyes, / And screams of horror rend th' affrighted skies.

Let spades be trumps! she said, and trumps they were.

Coffee, which makes the politician wise, / And see through all things with his half-shut eyes.

Belinda smiled, and all the world was gay.

Sir Plume, of amber snuff-box justly vain, / And the nice conduct of a clouded cane.

This Lock, the Muse shall consecrate to Fame, / And mid'st the Stars inscribe Belinda's Name!