THE DUNCIA D: то DR. JONATHAN SWIFT. BOOK THE FIRST. ARGUMENT. THE Propofition, the Invocation, and the Inscription. Then the Original of the great Empire of Dulness, and caufe of the continuance thereof. The College of the Goddefs in the City, with her private Academy for Poets in particular; the Governors of it, and the four Cardinal Virtues. Then the Poem haftes into the midst of things, presenting her, on the evening of a Lord Mayor's Day, revolving the long fucceffion of her Sons, and the glories past and to come. She fixes her eye on Bays to be the Inftrument of that great Event which is the Subject of the Poem. He is defcribed penfive among his Books, giving up the Caufe, and apprehending the Period of her Empire: After debating whether to betake himself to the Church, or to Gaming, or to Party-writing, he raises an Altar of proper Books, and (making firft his folemn prayer and declaration) pur pofes thereon to facrifice all his unfuccessful writings. As the pile is kindled, the Goddess beholding the flame from her feat, flies and puts it out by cafting upon it the poem of Thulé. She forthwith reveals herself to him, tranfports him to her Temple, unfolds her Arts, and initiates him into her Myfteries; then announcing the death of Eufden the Poet Laureate, anoints him, carries him to court, and proclaims him Succeffor. |