But fad example! never to escape Kind Self-conceit to fome her glafs applies, On others intereft her gay livery flings, Intereft, that waves on party-colour'd wings: Turn'd to the fun, fhe cafts a thousand dyes, And, as fhe turns, the colours fall or rife. 530 540 Others the fyren-fifters warble round, How quick Ambition hastes to ridicule! On fome, a priest fuccinct in amice white REMARKS. 550 « autre Principe, tient lieu de ce qu'on appelleit "autrefois Grandeur d'Ame et Fidelité." Boulain. williers Hift. des Ancions Parlements de France &c. Another (for in all what one can thine ?). Wash Bladen white, and expiate Hay's flain. 560 To three effential partridges in one? REMARKS. trygons fpitted men upon fpears, as we do larks This cood scholiaft nur being acquainted with modern luxury, what that thefe were on 66 Ver 556, feve and verdeur] French terms re, lating to wines, which fignify their flavour and poignancy. Ver. 528 ftill keep the human fhape.] The ef fects of the Magus's Cup, by which is allegoried a total corruption of heart, are jul contrary to that of Circe, which only reprefents the fuddenly the miracles of ewch cookery, and that particularly Pigeons en crapeau" were a common plunging into pleasures Her's, therefore, took dish. away the fhape, and left the human mind; his takes away the mind, and leaves the human fhape. Ver $29. But fhe, good goddess, &c.] The only comfort people can receive, must be owing in fome fhape or other to Dulnefs; which makes fome ftupid, others impudent, gives self-conceit to fome, upon the flatteries of their dependents, prefents the falle colours of interest to others, and bufies or amufes the reft with idle pleatures or Lenfuality, till they become eafy under any infamy. Each of which species is here fhadowed under allegorical perfons. Ver. 532. Cibberian forehead, or Cimmerian gloom.] i. e. She communicates to them of her own virtue, or of her royal colleagues. The Cibberian forehead being to fit them for felf-conceit, telf-intereft, &c. and the Cimmerian gloom, for the pleafures of opera, and the table. SCRIBL. "Et je gagerois que chez le commandeur Defpreaus. St. Evremont has a very pathetic letter to a nobleman in disgrace, advising him to seek comfort in a good table, and particularly to be attentive to thefe qualities in his Champaigne. Ver. 560 Bladen-Hays] Names of gamesters. Bladen is a black man. Robert Knight cashier of the South Sea Company, who fled from England in 1720 (afterwards pardoned in 1742).— Thefe lived with the utmost magnificence at Paris, and kept open tables, frequented by perfons of the firftquality of England, and even by princes of the blood of France. Ver. 553. The board with fpecious miracles he loads, &c.] Scriblerus feems at a loss in this place. Speciofa miraculu (fays he) according to Horace, where the monftrous fables of the Cyclops, LæArygons, Scylla, &c. What relation have thefe to transformation of hares into larks, or of pigeons into toads? I fhall tell thee. The Lafing to a known proverb, Ibid. Bladen, &c ] The former note of " Bladen " is a black man," is very abfurd. The manufcript here is partly obliterated, and doubtiefs could only have been, Wafh blackmoors white, allud REMARKS. Ver. 567. Her children first of more distinguish'd fort, [court] Who ftudy Shakspeare at the inns of I would that fcholiaft discharge his duty, who fhould neglect to honour those whom Dulness has diftinguished; or fuffer them to lie forgotten, when their rare modesty would have left them nameleis. Let us not, therefore, overlook the fervices which have been done her caufe by one Mr. Thomas Edwards, a gentleman, as he is pleafed 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 anceflors 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 happy finished the Dunce's progrefs in perfonal abufe. 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 against us for reflecting his birth, in the words," a gentlemen of the laft 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 ansetor, 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 elfewhere admirably characterised 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 thote on whom a good education (to fit them for fome ufeful and learned profeffion) has been bestowed in vain. That worthlefs band * Of ever-listless 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 lumpih, narrow, and contracted for thofe of focial, become fit for nothing; and fo turn wits 580 The laft, not leaft in honour or applaufe, REMARKS. 590 and critics, where fenfe and civility are neither required nor expected. Ver. 571. Some, deep free-mafons, join the filent race] The poet all along exprelles a very par ticular concern for this filent race: He has here provided, that in cafe they will not waken or open (as was before propofed) to a bumming bird or a cockle, yet at worft 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. Ver. 584. each privilege your own, &c.] This fpeech of Duluefs to her fons at parting may poffibly fall thort of the reader's expectations; who may imagine the goddefs 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 perfonate running footmen, jockies ftage coachmen, &c. But if it be well confidered, that whatever inclination they might have to do mischief, her fons are generally rendered harmless by their inability; and that it is the common effect of Dulnefs (even the poet, I am perfuaded, will be juftified, and it in her greatett 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 diftribution of her rewards, deferves our notice. It confits in joining with thofe honours claimed by birth and high place, others more adapted to the ge mius and talents of the candidates. And thus her iter, entered on his government, by making his great forerunner, John of Leyden, king of Munancient friend and companion, Knipper-dolling, general of his horfe, and hangman. And had but Fortune feconded his great fehemes of reformation, it is faid, he would have established 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 therefore recommended only to peers of learning? The judge to dance his brother ferjeant call; 600 [nods: More fhe had fpoke, but yawn'd-All Nature REMARKS. preach'd) Of weaving ftockings of the webs of fpiders, 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. Then catch'd the schools; the hall fearce kept a The convocation gap'd, but could not speak; 610 The vapour mild o'er each committee crept; O Mufe! relate (for you can tell alone, REMARKS. Ver. 6io. 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 deVer. 598. Teach kings to fiddle,] An ancient fire but to go to reft: by no means the difpofition amufement of fovereign princes, (viz.) Achilles, of the convocation; whofe melancholy cafe in Alexander, Nero; though defpifed by Themifto- fhort is this: She was, as is reported, infected eles, who was a republican-Make fenates dance, with the general influence of the goddess; and either after their prince, or to Pontoife, or Siberia. while fhe was yawning carelessly at her eafe, a Ver. 60. What mortal can refift the yawn of wanton courtier took her at advantage, and in gods?] This verfe is truly Homerical; as is the the very nick clapp'd a gag into her chops. Well conclufion of the action, where the great mother therefore may we know her meaning by her gapcompofes all, in the fame manner as Minerva ating; and this diftrefsful pofture our poet here dethe period of the Odyffey-It may indeed feem a fcribes, juft as the ftands at this day, a fad examvery fingular epitafis of the poem, to end as this ple of the effects of Dulness and Malice uncheckdoes, with a great yawn; but we muft confidered, and defpifed it as the yawn of a god, and of powerful effects. It is not out of nature, most long and grave counfels concluding in this very manner: Nor without authority, the incomparable Spenfer having ended one of the moft confiderable of his works with a roar; but then it is the roar of a lion, the effects 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. First it feizeth the churches and chapels; then catcheth the schools, 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 goddefs: Then the convocation, which, though extremely defirous to speak, yet | cannot Even the Houfe of Commons, justly cal. led 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 sleeping 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 affairs. SCRIBL. 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 miftaken, 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. Πληθὸν 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 reason for putting this talk upon the mufe, that, all befides being afleep, fhe 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, Which required the greatest effort of our Till drown'd was fenfe, and fhame, and right, and wrong O fing, and hush 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 stood thus: Philofophy, that reach'd the heavens before, Shrinks to her hidden caufe, and is no more. 640 REMARKS. what we are to fear; and in the ftyle 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 he 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.] A luding 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 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 paft 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 fo unjust a reflection had ing the fimplicity, and defiling the purity of relinever difcredited fo noble a fatire. When I hint-gion, as at the view of thefe her false supports 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 geRius, and a fatire on the folly by which he the poct himself had been mifled. 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 treatife on Virtue, to prove it not only real but durable, without the fupport of religion. The word Unawares alludes to the confidence of those men, who fuppofe that morality would flourish bet without it, and confequently to the surprise 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. BY THE AUTHOR-A DECLARATION. WHEREAS certain haberdashers of points and particles, being inftigated by the spirit of pride, and affuming to themselves the name of critics and restorers, have taken upon them to adulterate the common and current sense of our glorious ancestors, poets of this realm, by clipping, coining, defacing the images, mixing their own base alloy, or otherwife falfifying the fame; which they publish, utter, and vend as genuine: The said baberdafers baving no right thereto, as neither beirs, executors, adminiftrators, affigns, or in any fort related to fuch poets, to all or any of them: Now, we having carefully revised this our Dunciad, * beginning with the words the mighty mother, and ending with the words buries all, containing the entire fum of one thousand feven hundred and fifty-four verses, declare every word figure, point, and comma of this impression to be authentic: And do therefore firicily enjoin and forbid any perfon or persons whatsoever, to erase, reverst, put between hooks, or by any other means, directly or indirectly, change or mangle any of them. And we do beraby earnefily exbort all our brethren to follow this our example, which we heartily wifh our great predecessors bad beretofore fet, as a remedy and prevention of all fuch abuses. Provided always, that nothing in this declaration fball be conftrued to limit the larvful and undoubted right of every fubject of this realm, to judge, cenfure, or cotsdemn, in the whole or in part, any poem or poet whatsoever. Given under our band at London, this third day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven bundred thirty and two, Declarat' cor' me, JOHN BARBER, Mayor. * Read thus confidently, inftead of "beginning with the word books, and ending with the "word flies," as formerly it ftood: Read alfo, "containing the entire fum of one thousand seven "hundred and fifty-four verses," instead of "one thousand and twelve lines;" fuch being the initial and final words, and fuch the true and entire contents of this poem. Thou art to know, reader that the first edition thereof, like that of Milton, was never feen by the author (though living, and not blind): The editor himself confefled as much in his preface: And no two poems were ever publifhed in fo arbitrary a manner. The editor of this had as boldly fuppreffed whole paffages, yea the entire laft book, as the editor of Paradife Loft, added and augmented. Milton himself gave but ten books, his editor twelve; this author gave four books, his editor only three. But we have happily done justice to both; and presume we fhall live, in this our laft labour, as long as in any of our others. BENTL. |