Question

Which line in this excerpt from "The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope suggests that women in eighteenth-century England were expected to readily accept proposals from rich gentlemen without much opposition?

What dire offence from am'rous causes springs,
What mighty contests rise from trivial things,
I sing — This verse to Caryl, Muse! is due:
This, ev'n Belinda may vouchsafe to view:
Slight is the subject, but not so the praise,
If She inspire, and He approve my lays.

Say what strange motive, Goddess! could compel
A well-bred Lord t' assault a gentle Belle?
O say what stranger cause, yet unexplor'd,
Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord?
In tasks so bold, can little men engage,
And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty Rage?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

For all Plato users

Answer 2

I'd say that the lines this excerpt from "The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope that suggest that women in eighteenth-century England were expected to readily accept proposals from rich gentlemen without much opposition are the following ones:

O say what stranger cause, yet unexplor'd,
Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord?

You can see that the author is confused why the girl rejected the proposal.