Explain the quotation:
On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore.
Answer: These lines are extracted from the famous heroic-comical poem “The Rape of the Lock”. They are derived from the 2nd canto of the mock-epic composed by Alexander Pope, the representative poet of the Augustan Age (1700-1745) of English literature. Here the poet has minutely painted the hypocrisy of the then aristocratic women's society through Belinda.
Belinda is marvelously beautiful. She is able to compete in brightness with the sun. She is surrounded by beautiful ladies and well-dressed young gentlemen. But the eyes of everyone are fixed on her only. Belinda wears a glittering cross on her bosom. The Jews do not believe in Christ. Nor do many other people belong to different religions. The Jews and infidels would therefore feel absolutely no respect for the Cross which is a symbol of the crucifixion of Christ. But even they (that is, non-Christians) would have shown respect to the particular Cross which Belinda is wearing. They would have shown respect to this Cross, not because of its religious significance, but because it is put on by such a beautiful lady as Belinda. The poet means to say that the Cross has a special significance and becomes worthy of respect when Belinda wears it on her white breast. So the non-Christians who do not believe in it begin to wear the Cross and worship.
Actually, Pope's picture of Belinda is enlivened by his delicate satire. He takes to hyperbolical language to describe Belinda's charm, beauty, and conduct. Just to increase her demand and prove her piety, Belinda puts on Cress. She uses it as an ornament. Because as a perfect coquette, she knows how to win favor and deceive others. So Belinda's hypocrisy and religious hollowness have been exposed through these lines.
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