The quote in question is only understandable in reference
to the stanza that precedes it. The Baron had been contemplating schemes for attaining a
lock of Belinda's perfectly curled and styled hair. Over the meal they all shared, the
coffee aroma sent vapors of inspiration to his brain, after all, according to Pope,
coffee is what makes the politicians wise:
Coffee (which makes the Politician
wise,
And see through all things with his half-shut Eyes)
Sent up in
Vapours to the Baron's
Brain
These fragrant vapors
inspired "New stratagems," new plans, for gaining Belinda's lock of hair. At this point
in the narrative, the third person poetic speaker intrudes to warn and reprimand the
foolish Baron of what dire consequences might occur:
Ah cease rash Youth! desist ere 'tis too
late,
Fear the just Gods, and think of Scylla's
Fate!
In a classical
allusion, the speaker warns the Baron about being changed into a bird like Scylla,
Nisus's daughter, was after she cut off her father's sacred purple lock of hair. (Of
course, Pope is being satirical and ironic in this passage.) This, now, is where the
quote in question comes in.
The Baron won't take heed of Scylla's
plight. He continues to concoct scheming plans. He finds an accomplice. The poetic
speaker is watching all this go on and figuratively shrugs his shoulders and raises his
hands in remorse as he says that when humans decide to will to do "mischiefs," it is
very soon that they find the ways and means to do it!
But when to Mischief Mortals bend their
Will,
How soon they find fit Instuments of
Ill!
The truth of the
statement is borne out because next the Baron takes Clarissa's scissors "from their
shining Case" and very slowly edges over behind Belinda--despite the efforts of the
Sprights and Sylphs and Ariel himself--and cuts off her
lock!
The Peer
now spreads the glittering Forfex wide,
T' inclose the Lock; now joins it, to
divide.
[...]
The meeting Points the sacred Hair
dissever
From the fair Head, for ever and for
ever!
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