560 What cannot copious Sacrifice atone? REMARES. Impale a Glow-worm, or Vertù profess, lating to Wines, which fignify their flavour and This Nod confirms each Privilege your own. poignancy. "Et je gagerois que chez le Commandeur "Villandri priferoit fa Seve et fa Verdeur." Défpreaux. St. Evremont has a very pathetic Letter to a Nobleman in difgrace, advising him to feek comfort in a good Table, and particularly to be attentive to these Qualities in his Champaigne. REMARKS. 530 575 580 man of the last Edition," which we hereby declare Ver. 560. Bladen-Hays] Names of Gamefters.lated to him by the Mufe's fide. This Tribe of Men, which Scriblerus has here fo well exemplified, our Poet hath elsewhere admirably characterized in that happy line, Ibid. Bladen, &c.] The former Note of Bladen " is a black man,' is very abfurd. The Manufcript here is partly obliterated, and doubtlefs could only have been, Wafh Blackmoors white, alluding to a known Proverb. SCRIBL. Ver. 367. Her children first of more diftinguish'd fort, Who study Shakespeare at the Inns of Court. Ill would that Scholiaft difcharge his duty, who fhould neglect to honour those whom DULNESs has diftinguished; or fuffer them to lie forgotton, when their rare modefty would have left them nameless. Let us not, therefore, overlook the Services 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 Gentle man only of the Dunciad; or, to fpeak him better, in the plain language of our honeft Ancestors to fuch Mushrooms, a Gentleman of the laft Edition: who, nobly eluding the folicitude of his careful Father, very early retained himielf in the caufe of Dulness against Shakeipeare, and with the wit and learning of his Ancestor Tom Thimble in the Rehearsal, and with the air of good nature and politeness of Caliban in the Tempest, hath now happily finished the Dunce's progrefs, in perfonal abute. For a Libeller is nothing but a Gruoftreet Critic run to Seed. "A brain of Feathers, and a heart of Lead." For the fatire extends much farther 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 ufeful and learned profeffion) has been bestowed in vain. That worthlefs Band "Of ever-liftlefs Loiterers, that attend 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 focial, become fit tor nothing: and fo turn. Wits 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 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 Laybrothers, Slips from the Root of the FreeMafons. Ver. 584. each Privilege your own, &c.] This fpeech of Dainels to her Sons at parting may posibly fall fhort of the Reader's expectation; who may imagine the Goddel's might give them a Charge of more Lamentable is the Dulnefs of thefe Gentlemen of confequence, and, from fuch a Theory as is before the Dunciad. This Fungofo and his friends, who delivered, incite them to the practice of something fe all Gentlemen, have exclaimed much against us more extraordinary, than to perfonate Running FooLfor reflecting his birth, in the words, a Gentlemen, Jockeys, Stage Coachmen, &c. The Cap and Switch be facred to his Grace; Churches and Chapels inftantly it reach'd : The Convocation gap'd, but could not speak: 610 The Vapour mild o'er each Committee crept; 615 595 Unfinish'd Treaties in each Office slept ; The learned Baron Butterfies defign, nods: What Mortal can refift the Yawn of Gods? REMARKS. 600 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 Dulness (even in her greatest efforts) to defeat her own defign; the Poet, I am perfuaded, will be justified, and it 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 Switch, &c.] The Goddefs's political balance of favour, in the diftribution of her rewards, deferves our notice. It confifts in joining with thofe 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, Knipperdolling, General of his Horfe and Hangman. And had but Fortune feconded his great fchemes of Reformation, it is faid, he would have eftablished his whole Household on the fame readable 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. Of weaving Stockings of the Webs of Spiders, fee the Phil. Traní. Ver. 591. The Judge to dance his brother Sergeant call:] Alluding perhaps to that ancient and folemn Dance, intitled, A call of Sergeants. Ver. 598. Teach Kings to fiddle,] An ancient amufement of Sovereign Princes, (viz) Achilles, Alexander, Nero; though defpifed by Themiftocles, who was a Republican-Make Senates dance, either after their Prince, or to Pontoile, or Siberia. Ver. 6c6. What Mortal can refift the Yawn of Gods?] This verfe is truly Homerical; as is the conclusion of the Action, where the great Mother compofes all, in the lame manner as Minerva at the period of the Odytiey.-It may indeed feem a very And Chieflefs Armies doz'd out the Campaign! REMARKS. 620 fingular Epitafis of a Poem, to end as this does, with a Great Yawn; but we must confider it as the Yawn of a God, and of powerful eflects. 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 werks 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. Churches and Chapels, &c.] The Progrefs of this Yawn, is judicious, natural, and worthy to be noted. First it feizeth the Churches and Cha pels; 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 Goddess: Then the Convocation, which though extremely defirous to speak, yet cannot Even the Houfe of Commons, juftly called the Sense of the Nation, is loft (that is to fay fufpended) during the Yawn; (far be it from our Author to fuggeft it could be loft any longer!) but it spreadeth at large over all the rest 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 caufe fome Relaxation, for the time, in all public affairs. SCRIBL. Ver. 610. The Convocation gap'd, but could not fpeak ;] implying a great defire fo to do, as the learned Scholiaft 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 reit: by no means the difpofition of the Convocation; whofe melancholy cafe in fhort is this: She was, as reported, infected with the general influence of the Goddefs; and while the was yawning carelessly at her ease, a wanton Courtier took her at advantage, and in the very nick clap'd a Gag into her chops. Well therefore may we know her meaning by her gaping; and this diftressful pofture our poet here defcribes, just as the ftands at this day, a fad example of the effects of Dulness and Malice unchecked, and defpifed. 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 Poem of a fresher date. Ver. 620. Wits have short Memories,] This feema Relate, who firft, who laft refign'd to reft; Till drown'd was Senfe, and Shame, and Right, and O fing, and hush the Nations with thy Song! In vain, in vain, the all-compofing Hour Wit shoots in vain its momentary fires, REMARKS. 625 630 635 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, Iliad ii. Πληθυν δ' εκ αν μυθήσομαι εδ' οιομηνών And Virgil, Æn. vii. "Et meminiftis enim, Divæ, et memorare poteftis: "Ad nos vix tenuis famæ perlabitur aura. But our Poet had yet another reafon for putting this Tafk 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 greateft effort of our Goddess's 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. SCRIEL. Ver. 629. She comes! he comes! &c.] Here the Mufe, like Jove's Eagle, after a fudden ftoop at ignoble game, foareth again to the fkies. As Prophecy hath ever been one of the chief provinces of Poely, our Poet here foretells from what we feel, what we are to fear; and in the style of other prophets, hath ufed the future tenfe for the preterit; fince what he fays hall be, is already to be feen, in the writings of some even of our most adored an thors, in Divinity, Philofophy, Phyfics, Metaphysics, &c. who are too good indeed to be named in fuch company. 15. 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 blat 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. Ver. 649. Religion blufhing veils her facred fires,] Blufhing as well at the memory of the paft overflow of Dulnefs, when the barbarous learning of fo many ages was wholly employed in corrupting the firoplicity, and defiling the purity of Religion, as at the view of thefe her falfe fupports in the prefent; of which it would be endlefs to recount the particuLars. However, amidst the extinction of all other Lights, he is faid only to withdraw hers! as hers alone in its own nature is unextinguishable and eter nal. Ver. 650. And unawares Morality expires.] It appears from hence that our Poet was of very differeat fentiments from the Author of the Characteriftics, 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 thofe men, who fuppofe that Morality would flourish belt without it, and confequeatly to the furprize 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. END OF THE SIXTH VOLUME. LOITS POPE'S POEM S. RANSLATION of Homer's Iliad, 1-184 The BASSET-TABLE, on Eclogue, TRAN Recommendatory Poems, SPRING, the firit Pastoral, Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, 397 422 424 ib. Anfwer to a Question of Mes. Howe, ib 308 A Prologue to a Play for Mr. Dennis's Benefit, ib. 309 Prologue to Sophonifba, 316 On a certain Lady at Court, ib. 310 MACER, a Character, 425 311 To Mr. MOORE, author of the WORM POWDER, ib. 314 Song, by a Perfon of Quality, 1733, ib. 426 ib. ib. ib. To Mr. SoUTHERN, on his Birth-day, ib. ib. Epigram on one who made long Epitaphs 334 To Sir GODFREY KNELLER 337 A Farewell to London, 341 A Dialogue, 348 Epigram engraved on the Collar of a Dog, 352 Epigram occafioned hy an Invitation to Court, Verfes left by Mr. Pope, on his lying in the fame Verfes to Mr. C. St. James's Place, CHAUCER, 361 SPENCER, the Alley, ib. WALLER, of a Lady finging to her Lute, 362 429 On a Fan, ib. ib. Satires and Epiftles of HORACE imitated, 398-407 MISCELLANIES. VI. On Mrs. CORBET, who died of a Cancer in ib. ib. ib. 431 ib. .ib. |