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A Youth more glitt'ring than a Birth-night Beau, / (That ev'n in slumber caus'd her cheek to glow) / Seem'd to her ear his winning lips to lay, / And thus in whispers said, or seem'd to say. / Fairest of mortals, thou distinguish'd care/ Of thousand bright Inhabitants of Air!
This first description of Ariel comes from Canto 1, as he hovers over the sleeping Belinda’s ear. As Belinda’s protector, Ariel also has an almost romantic tension with Belinda. His whisper causes Belinda to blush, and he refers to her as “Fairest of mortals.” We later learn that the sylphs’ powers fade when a woman falls in love with a man. While there is no literal romantic relationship between Ariel and Belinda, he fulfills that role in an almost spiritual manner, her guardian and defender of her honor.
Our humbler province is to tend the Fair, / Not a less pleasing, tho' less glorious care; / To save the powder from too rude a gale, / Nor let th' imprison'd-essences exhale…
This quotation comes from Ariel’s call to arms in Canto 2, as he briefs the other sylphs about the impending danger to Belinda. He here describes the role of a sylph, noting that their work may not appear as grand as the spirits who guide the movement of the earth or the British Empire, but argues their work still has pleasure and merit. What follows is a list full of the rather trivial jobs they have, such as making sure wind doesn’t ruin Belinda’s powder compact or makeup. He brings a consequential air to his inconsequential work.
As on the nosegay in her breast reclin'd, / He watch'd th' Ideas rising in her mind, / Sudden he view'd, in spite of all her art, / An earthly Lover lurking at her heart. / Amaz'd, confus'd, he found his pow'r expir'd, / Resign'd to fate, and with a sigh retir'd.
Just as the Baron approaches Belinda with the scissors in Canto 3, Ariel’s powers fail because he realizes Belinda has fallen in love. As sylphs only watch over women who are unattached, Belinda showing favor to someone means she no longer is their province. The fragility of Ariel’s powers mirrors the fragile position a woman’s reputation has in society. Belinda can only be a proper coquette as long as she shows favor to none.
