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While others, timely, to the neighb'ring Fleet (Haunt of the Mufes) made their fafe retreat.

66

NOTES.

count it a deception of fight, or illufion of the Devil, "who fometimes takes upon him the shape of holy men on purpose to caufe fcandal."

SCRIBL.

VER. 427. Fleet] A prifon for infolvent Debtors on the bank of the Ditch.

The End of the SECOND BOOK.

Η

THE

DUNCIAD:

BOOK the THIRD.

ARGUMENT.

After the other perfons are difpofed in their proper places of reft, the Goddess tranfports the King to her Temple, and there lays him to flumber with his head on her lap; a pofition of marvellous virtue, which caufes all the vifions of wild enthufiafts, projectors, politicians, inamoratos, caftle-builders, chemifts, and poets. He is immediately carried on the wings of Fancy, and led by a mad Poetical Sibyl, to the Elysian shade; where, on the banks of Lethe, the fouls of the dull are dipped by Bavius, before their entrance into this world. There he is met by the ghost of Settle, and by him made acquainted with the wonders of the place, and with thofe which he himfelf is defined to perform. He takes him to a Mount of Vifion, from whence he fhews him the past triumphs of the Empire of Dulness, then the prefent, and lastly the future: how small a part of the world was ever conquered by Science, how foon those conquefts were stopped, and thofe very nations again reduced to her dominion. Then diftinguishing the

Ifland of Great Britain, fhews by what aids, by what perfons, and by what degrees it shall be brought to her Empire. Some of the perfons he causes to pass in review before his Eyes, defcribing each by his proper figure, character, and qualifications. On a fudden the Scene fhifts, and a vast number of miracles and prodigies appear, utterly surprising and unknown to the King himself, 'till they are explained to be the wonders of his own reign now commencing. On this Subject Settle breaks into a congratulation, yet not unmixed with concern, that his own times were but the types of thefe. He prophecies how first the nation shall be over-run with Farces, Operas, and Shows; how the throne of Dulness fhall be advanced over the Theatres, and fet up even at Court: then how her Sons fhall prefide in the feats of Arts and Sciences : giving a glimpfe, or Pifgah-fight of the future Fulnefs of her Glory, the accomplishment whereof is the fubject of the fourth and laft book.

BOOK III.

UT in her Temple's laft recefs inclos'd, On Dulness' lap th' Anointed head repos'd. Him close fhe curtains round with Vapours blue, And foft besprinkles with Cimmerian dew. Then raptures high the seat of Sense o'erflow, Which only heads refin❜d from Reason know. Hence, from the ftraw where Bedlam's Prophet nods, He hears loud Oracles, and talks with Gods:

IMITATIONS.

5

VER. 7, 8. Hence, from the ftraw where Bedlam's Prophet nods,

He bears loud Oracles, and talks with Gods :]

Et varias audit voces, fruiturque deorum
Colloquio

NOTES.

Virg. Æn. viii.

VER. 5, 6, &c. Hereby is intimated that the following Vision is no more than the chimera of the dreamer's brain, and not a real or intended fatire on the prefent Age, doubtless more learned, more enlightened, and more abounding with great Genius's in Divinity, Politics, and whatever arts and fciences, than all the preceding. For fear of any fuch mistake of our Poet's honeft meaning, he hath again, at the end of the Vifion, repeated this monition, faying that it all pafs'd through the Ivory gate, which (according to the Ancients) denoteth Falfity, SCRIBL.

How much the good Scriblerus was mistaken, may be feen from the fourth book, which, it is plain from hence he had never seen. BENTL.

Plate XXII.

Vol.V.facing p.116.

Hayman inv.& del.

C.Grignion fcalp.

A Slip-shod Sibyl led his Steps along,.In lofty Madness meditating Song.

Dunciad, Book III.

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