Impale a glow-worm, or Vertu profess, 370 580 The laft, not least in honour or applaufe, Ifis and Cam made Doctors of her laws. Then blefling all, Go, children of my care! To practice now from theory repair. All my commands are easy, short, and full: My fons! be proud, be felfish, and be dull. Guard my prerogative, affert my throne: This nod confirms each privilege your own. The cap and fwitch be facred to his Grace; With staff and pumps the Marquis leads the race; From ftage to ftage the licens'd Earl may run, Pair'd with his fellow-charioteer the fun; The learned Baron butterflies defign, Or draw to filk Arachne's fubtile line; Who ftudy Shakspeare at the inns of Nor paft the meaneft unregarded, one Rose a Gregorián, one a Gormogon, REMARKS. Ver. 567. Her children first of more diftinguifh'd fort, [court] Ill would that scholiast discharge his duty, who fhould neglect to honour those whom Dulnefs has ciftinguished; or fuffer them to lie forgotten, when their rare modefty would have left them nameless. Let us not, therefore, overlook the fervices which have been done her cause by one Mr. Thomas Edwards, a gentleman, as he is pleased to call himself, of Lincoln's-Inn; but, in reality, a gentleman only of the Dunciad; or, to speak him better, in the plain language of our ancestors to fuch mushrooms, a gentleman of the laft edition: who, nobly eluding the folicitude of his careful father, very early retained himself in the caufe of Dulness against Shakspeare, and with the wit and learning of his ancestor Tom Thimble in the Rehearsal, and with the air of good nature and politenefs of Caliban in the tempeft, hath now happily finished the Dunce's progrefs in perfonal abule. For a libeller is nothing but a Grub-street critic run to feed. Lamentable is the dulnefs of thefe gentlemen of the Dunciad. This Fungofo and his friends, who are all gentlemen, have exclaimed much againft us for reflecting his birth, in the words, " agen "tlemen of the last edition," which we hereby declare concern not his birth, but his adoption only and mean no more than that he is become a gentleman of the last edition of the Dunciad. Since gentlemen, then, are fo captious, we think it proper to declare that Mr. Thomas Thimble, who is here faid to be Mr. Thomas Edwards's anceitor, is only related to him by the mufe's fide. SCRIBL. This tribe of men, which Scriblerus has here fo well exemplified, our poet hath elsewhere admirably characterifed in that happy line, "A brain of feathers, and a heart of lead." For the fatire extends much further than to the perfon who occafioned it and takes in the whole fpecies of thofe on whom a good education (to fit them for fome useful and learned profeffion) has been bestowed in vain. That worthlefs band "Of ever-liftlefs loiterers, that attend "No caufe, no truft, no duty, and no friend;" who, with an understanding too diffipated and futile for the offices of civil life; and a heart too lumpish, narrow, and contracted for thofe of fo REMARKS. 59. and critics, where fenfe and civility are neither required nor expected. Ver. 571. Some, deep free-mafons, join the fi lent race] The poet all along expreffes a very particular concern for this filent race: He has here provided, that in cafe they will not waken or open (as was before propofed) to a humming bird or a cockle, yet at worst they may be made free-mafons; where taciturnity is the only effential qualification, as it was the chief of the difciples of Pythagoras. Ver. 576. A Gregorian, one a Gormogon,] A fort of lay-brothers, flips from the root of the free-mafons. fpeech of Duinefs to her fons at parting may pofVer. 584. each privilege your own, &c.] This fibly fall fhort of the reader's expectations; who may imagine the goddess might give them a charge of more confequence, and, from fuch a theory as is before delivered, incite them to the practice of fomething more extraordinary, than to perfonaté running footmen, jockies, ftage coachmen, &c. But if it be well confidered, that whatever inclination they might have to do mifchief, her fons are generally rendered harmless by their inability; and that it is the common effect of Duluefs (even the poet, I am perfuaded, will be juftified, and it in her greatest efforts) to defeat her own defign; will be allowed that thefe worthy perfons, in their feveral ranks, do as much as can be expected from them. Ver. 585. The cap and fwitch, &c] The goddefs's political balance of favour, in the diftribu-, tion of her rewards, deferves our notice. It confits in joining with those honours claimed by birth and high place, others more adapted to the genius and talents of the candidates. And thus her great forerunner, John of Leyden, king of Munfter, entered on his government, by making his ancient friend and companion, Knipper-dolling, general of his horfe, and hangman. And had but Fortune feconded his great schemes of reformation, it is faid, he would have eftablished his whole household on the fame reasonable footing. SCRIBL. Ver. 590. Arachne's fubtile line ;] This is one of the most ingenious employments affigned, and The judge to dance his brother ferjeant call; REMARK 3. preach'dy f 600 Of weaving ftockings of the webs of spiders, fee the Phil. Tranf. Ver. 591. The judge to dance his brother fergeant call; Alluding perhaps to that ancient and folemn dance, intitled, a call of fergeants. Ver. 598. Teach kings to fiddle,] An ancient amufement of fovereign princes, (viz.) Achilles, Alexander, Nero; though defpifed by Themiftocles, who was a republican-Make fenates dance, either after their prince, or to Pontoife, or Siberia. Then catch'd the fchools; the hall fcarce kept a wake; The convocation gap'd, but could not speak; 61 And chieflefs armies doz'd out the campaign! O Mufe! relate (for you can tell alone, REMARKS. Ver. 610. The convocation gap'd, but could, not speak;] Implying a great defire fo to do, as the learned fcholiaft on the place rightly obferves. Therefore beware, reader, left thou take this gape for a yawn, which is attended with no defire but to go to reft: by no means the difpofition of the convocation; whofe melancholy cafe in fhort is this: She was, as is reported, infected with the general influence of the goddess; and while she was yawning carelessly at her eafe, a wanton courtier took her at advantage, and in the very nick clapp'd a gag into her chops. Well therefore may we know her meaning by her gap feribes, just as she stands at this day, a fad example of the effects of Dulness and Malice uncheck BENTL Ver. 606. What mortal can refift the yawn of gods?] This verfe is truly Homerical; as is the conclufion of the action, where the great mother compofes all, in the fame manner as Minerva ating; and this diftrefsful pofture our poet here dethe period of the Odyffey-It may indeed seem a very fingular epitafis of the poem, to end as this does, with a great yawn; but we muft confidered, and despised it as the yawn of a god, and of powerful effects. It is not out of nature, moft long and grave counfels concluding in this very manner: Nor without authority, the incomparable Spenfer having ended one of the most confiderable of his works with a roar; but then it is the roar of a lion, the effe as whereof are defcribed as the cataftrophe of the poem. Ver. 607. Church and chapels, &c.] The progrefs of this yawn is judicious and natural, and worthy to be noted. First it feizeth the churches and chapels; then catcheth the fchools, where, though the boys be unwilling to fleep, the masters are not: Next Westminster-hall, much more hard indeed to fubdue, and not totally put to filence even by the goddess: Then the convocation, which, though extremely defirous to speak, yet cannot Even the Houfe of Commons, justly called the fenfe of the nation, is loft (that is to fay fufpended) during the yawn; (far be it from the author to fuggeft that it could be loft any longer!) but it spreadeth at large over all the reft of the kingdom, to fuch a degree, that Palinurus himself (though as incapable of fleeping as Jupiter) yet noddeth for a moment; the effect of which, though ever fo momentary, could not but cause some relaxation, for the time, in all public Ver. 615-618.] Thefe verfes were written many years ago, and may be found in the State' Poems of that time. So that Scriblerus is mistaken, or whoever elfe have imagined this poem of a fresher date. Ver. 620. Wits have fhort memories,] This feems to be the reafon why the poets, when they give us a catalogue, conftantly call for help on the mufes, who, as the daughters of Memory. are obliged not to forget any thing. So Homer, Iliad ii. Πληθὺν δ ̓ ἐκ ἂν μυθήσομαι ἐδ ̓ ὀνομήνω, And Virgil, Æn. vii. "Et meminiftis enim, Divæ, et memorare po " teftis: "Ad nos vix tenuis famæ perlabitur aura.” But our poet had yet another reafon for putting this tafk npon the mufe, that, all befides being allcep, the only could relate what paffed. SCRIBL. Ver. 624 The venal quiet, and, &c.] It were a problem worthy the folution of Mr. Ralph and his patron, who had lights that we know nothing of, Till drown'd was fenfe, and shame, and right, | Phyfic of Metaphyfic begs defence, and wrong O fing, and hufh the nations with thy fong! * And Metaphyfic calls for aid on Senfe! In vain! they gaze, turn giddy, rave, and die. 650 630 Nor public flame, nor private dares to shine: In vain, in vain, the all-compofing hour VARIATION. Ver. 643. In the former edit. it flood thus: Philofophy, that reach'd the heavens before, Shrinks to her hidden cause, and is no more. 640 REMARKS. what we are to fear; and in the style of other prophets, hath used the future tenfe for the preterit: fince what he fays fhall be, is already to be feen, in the writings of fome even of our most adorned authors in divinity, philofophy, phyfics, metaphyfics, &c. who are too good indeed to be named in fuch company. Ibid. The fable throne behold.] The fable thrones of night and chaos, here reprefented as advancing to extinguish the light of the sciences, in the first place blot out the colours of fancy, and damp the fire of wit, before they proceed to their work. Ver. 641. Truth to her old cavern fled.] Alluding to the faying of Democritus, that truth lay at the bottom of a deep well, from whence he had drawn her: Though Butler says, he first put her in, before he drew her out. And this way was intended as a cenfure of the Newtonian philofophy. For the poet had been mifled by the prejudices of foreigners, as if that philofophy had recurred to the occult qualities of Ariftotle. This was the idea he received of it Ver. 649. Religion blushing veils her facred from a man educated much abroad, who had read fires,] Blufhing as well at the memory of the past every thing, but every thing fuperficially. Had overflow of Dulness, when the barbarous learning his excellent friend Dr. A. been confulted in this of fo many ages was wholly employed in corruptmatter, it is certain that so unjust a reflection had ing the fimplicity, and defiling the purity of reli never difcredited fo noble a fatire. When I hint-gion, as at the view of these her falfe fupports in ed to him how he had been impofed upon, he changed the lines with great pleasure into a com. pliment (as they now ftand) on that divine gemius, and a fatire on the folly by which he the poct himself had been misled. the prefent; of which it would be endless to recount the particulars. However, amidst the extinction of all other lights, she is said only to withdraw hers! as hers alone in its own nature is unextinguishable and eternal. Ver. 650. And unawares Morality expires] It appears from hence that our Poet was of very different fentiments from the Author of the Characteristics, who has written a formal treatise on Virtue, to prove it not only real but durable, without the fupport of religion. The word Unawares alludes to the confidence of thofe men, who fuppofe that morality would flourish beft without it, and confequently to the furprise fuch would be in (if any fuch there are) who indeed love virtue, and yet do all they can to root outc the religion of their country. The judge to dance his brother ferjeant call; REMARK3. preach'dy 600 Of weaving ftockings of the webs of spiders, fee the Phil. Tranf. Ver. 591. The judge to dance his brother fergeant call;] Alluding perhaps to that ancient and folemn dance, intitled, a call of fergeants. Ver. 598. Teach kings to fiddle,] An ancient amufement of fovereign princes, (viz.) Achilles, Alexander, Nero; though defpifed by Themiftocles, who was a republican-Make fenates dance, either after their prince, or to Pontoife, or Siberia. Then catch'd the fchools; the hall scarce kept a. The convocation gap'd, but could not speak; 61 And chiefless armies doz'd out the campaign! O Mufe! relate (for you can tell alone, REMARKS. Ver. 610. The convocation gap'd, but could, not speak;] Implying a great defire so to do, as the learned fcholiaft on the place rightly obferves. Therefore beware, reader, left thou take this gape for a yawn, which is attended with no defire but to go to reft: by no means the difpofition of the convocation; whofe melancholy cafe in fhort is this: She was, as is reported, infected with the general influence of the goddess; and while he was yawning carelessly at her eafe, a wanton courtier took her at advantage, and in the very nick clapp'd a gag into her chops. Well therefore may we know her meaning by her gaping; and this diftrefsful pofture our poet here defcribes, just as fhe ftands at this day, a fad example of the effects of Dulness and Malice uncheck Ver. 605. What mortal can refift the yawn of gods?] This verse is truly Homerical; as is the conclufion of the action, where the great mother compofes all, in the fame manner as Minerva at the period of the Odyssey.—It may indeed seem a very fingular epitafis of the poem, to end as this does, with a great yawn; but we muft confidered, and despised it as the yawn of a god, and of powerful effects. It is not out of nature, moft long and grave counfels concluding in this very manner: Nor without authority, the incomparable Spenfer having ended one of the most confiderable of his works with a roar; but then it is the roar of a lion, the effets whereof are defcribed as the catastrophe of the poem. Ver. 607. Church and chapels, &c.] The progrefs of this yawn is judicious and natural, and worthy to be noted. Firft it feizeth the churches and chapels; then catcheth the schools, where, though the boys be unwilling to fleep, the mafters are not: Next Westminster-hall, much more hard indeed to fubdue, and not totally put to filence even by the goddess: Then the convocation, which, though extremely defirous to speak, yet cannot Even the Houfe of Commons, juftly called the fenfe of the nation, is loft (that is to fay fufpended) during the yawn; (far be it from the author to fuggeft that it could be loft any longer!) but it spreadeth at large over all the reft of the kingdom, to fuch a degree, that Palinurus himself (though as incapable of fleeping as Jupi ter) yet noddeth for a moment; the effect of which, though ever fo momentary, could not but caufe fome relaxation, for the time, in all public BENTL Ver. 615-618.] Thefe verfes were written many years ago, and may be found in the State' Poems of that time. So that Scriblerus is mistaken, or whoever elfe have imagined this poeni of a fresher date. Ver. 620. Wits have fhort memories,] This feems to be the reason why the poets, when they give us a catalogue, conftantly call for help on the mufes, who, as the daughters of Memory, are obliged not to forget any thing. So Homer, lliaď ii. Πληθὺν δ ̓ ἐκ ἂν μυθήσομαι ἐδ ̓ ὀνομήνω, Εἰ μὴ Ὀλυμπιάδες Μέσαι, Διός αιγιόχοιο And Virgil, Æn. vii. "Et meminiftis enim, Divæ, et memorare pos "teftis: "Ad nos vix tenuis famæ perlabitur aura.” But our poet had yet another reason for putting this tafk npon the mufe, that, all befides being afleep, the only could relate what paffed. SCRIBL. Ver. 624 The venal quiet, and, &c.] It were a problem worthy the folution of Mr. Ralph and his patron, who had lights that we know nothing of, Till drown'd was fenfe, and shame, and right, and wrong O fing, and hufh the nations with thy song! * 630 Nor public flame, nor private dares to shine: In vain, in vain, the all-compofing hour VARIATION. Ver. 643. In the former edit. it flood thus: Philofophy, that reach'd the heavens before, Shrinks to her hidden cause, and is no more. 640 REMARKS. what we are to fear; and in the ftyle of other prophets, hath used the future tense for the preterit: fince what he fays fhall be, is already to be feen, in the writings of fome even of our most adorned authors in divinity, philofophy, phyfics, metaphyfics, &c. who are too good indeed to be named in fuch company. Ibid. The fable throne behold.] The fable thrones of night and chaos, here reprefented as advancing to extinguish the light of the sciences, in the first place blot out the colours of fancy, and damp the fire of wit, before they proceed to their work. Ver. 641. Truth to her old cavern fled.] Alluding to the faying of Democritus, that truth lay at the bottom of a deep well, from whence he had drawn her: Though Butler fays, he first put her in, before he drew her out. And this way was intended as a cenfure of the Newtonian philofophy. For the poet had been milled by the prejudices of foreigners, as if that philofophy had recurred to the occult qualities of Ariftotle. This was the idea he received of it Ver. 649. Religion blufhing veils her facred from a man educated much abroad, who had read fires,] Blushing as well at the memory of the past every thing, but every thing fuperficially. Had overflow of Dulnefs, when the barbarous learning his excellent friend Dr. A. been confulted in this of fo many ages was wholly employed in corruptmatter, it is certain that so unjust a reflection had ing the fimplicity, and defiling the purity of relk never difcredited fo noble a fatire. When I hint-gion, as at the view of these her falfe fupports in ed to him how he had been impofed upon, he changed the lines with great pleasure into a com. pliment (as they now ftand) on that divine genius, and a fatire on the folly by which he the poet himself had been misled. REMARKS. goddeffes power, to intrance the dull, or to quiet the venal. For though the venal may be more unruly than the dull, yet, on the other hand, it demands a much greater expence of her virtue to intrance than barely to quiet. SCRIBL. Ver. 629. She comes fhe comes: &c.] Here the mufe, like Jove's eagle, after a sudden stoop at ignoble game, foareth again to the skies. As prophecy hath ever been one of the chief provinces of pacfy, our poet here foretells from what we feel, the prefent; of which it would be endless to recount the particulars. However, amidst the extinction of all other lights, fhe is faid only to withdraw hers! as hers alone in its own nature is unextinguishable and eternal. Ver. 650. And unawares Morality expires] It appears from hence that our Poet was of very different fentiments from the Author of the Characteristics, who has written a formal treatise on Virtue, to prove it not only real but durable, without the fupport of religion. The word Unawares alludes to the confidence of thofe men, who fuppofe that morality would flourish best without it, and confequently to the furprife fuch would be in (if any fuch there are) who indeed love virtue, and yet do all they can to root out the religion of their country. |