Rape of the Lock

             As I bent down to look, just opposite, .
             A Shape within the watry gleam appeerd .
             Bending to look on me, I started back, .
             It started back, but pleasd I soon returnd, .
             Pleas'd it returnd as soon with answering looks .
             Of sympathie and love, there I had fixt .
             Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire, .
             Had not a voice thus warnd me, What thou seest, .
             What there thou seest fair Creature is thy self, .
             .
             In The Rape of the Lock we also see Belinda pondering her reflection in the mirror:.
             .
             First, rob'd in White, the Nymph intent adores.
             With Head uncover'd, the cosmetic Pow'rs.
             A heav'nly Image in the Glass appears,.
             To that she bends, to that her Eyes she rears;.
             Th' inferior Priestess, at her Altar's side,.
             Trembling, begins the sacred Rites of Pride.
             A central theme of The Rape of the Lock is the game of Ombre which Belinda plays against the Baron in Canto III. Ombre was quite popular in the 18th century and was a three-player game of cards similar to today's game of Spades. A better explanation of the game can be found here: http://webpages.shepherd.edu/maustin/ombre/ombre.htm , where you can even follow a link to watch a PowerPoint animation of an Ombre game. Belinda declares that spades shall be trump: .
             "The skilful Nymph reviews her Force with Care ;.
             Let Spades be Trumps ! she said, and Trumps they were.".
             The game goes on with Belinda winning the first four tricks, and then the Baron catching her up with four tricks of his own. The fate of the game depends on who will win the final trick, and speculation reaches a fever pitch:.
             "On one nice Trick depends the gen'ral Fate,.
             An Ace of Hearts steps forth : the King unseen.
             Lurk'd in her Hand, and mourn'd his captive Queen.
             He springs to Vengeance with an eager Pace,.
             And falls like Thunder on the prostrate Ace.".
             How interesting hat she won the final trick with the King of Hearts - a nice little twist.
             Of course it was her triumph, along with the smell of the coffee brewing, which prompted the Baron's idea to cut a lock of her hair off, either as revenge or as a practical joke in retaliation for her having won the game:.