But anxious cares the pensive nymph oppress'd - The Rape of the Lock - The Uncovered English

The Rape of the Lock

Alexander Pope

"But anxious cares the pensive nymph
oppress'd,
And secret passions labour'd in her breast."

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Who is the 'nymph' ?
Why is she pensive ?
What are her 'anxious cares' and 'secret passions' ?

In these quoted lines the nymph referred to Belinda, the heroine of Pope's 'The Rape Of The Lock.'

She is pensive because one of her beautiful and carefully nourished locks has been raped by the person she loves (Baron).

Her 'anxious cares' are the oppresive thoughts that after her gone, she will not look so attractive and beautiful as before. Moreover all women will hate as a degrated toast.

'Secret passions' are the conflicting emotions of anger and despair tearing the mind of Belinda on one hand she loved the Baron, on the other hand she felt insulted and outraged by the manner in which he had raped her lock. The anger gets the better of his love.

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