Sire, ancestors, himself'. One casts his eyes But she, good Goddess 4, sent to every child Kind Self-conceit to some her glass applies, On others Interest her gay livery flings, Interest, that waves on party-colour'd wings: Turn'd to the sun, she casts a thousand dyes, And, as she turns, the colours fall or rise Others the Syren Sisters warble round, Why all your toils? your sons have learn'd to sing. On some, a priest succinct in amice white 1 The cup of self-love, which causes a total oblivion of the obligations of friendship, or honour, and of the service of God or our country; all sacrificed to vain-glory, courtworship, or yet meaner considerations of lucre and brutal pleasures. From ver. 520 to 528. Homer of the Nepenthe, Odyss. 4. 2 So strange as this must seem to a mere English reader, the famous Mons. de la Bruyère declares it to be the character of every good subject in a monarchy: "Where (says he) there is no such thing as love of our country, the interest, the glory and service of the prince supply its place." De la République, chap. 10. 3 The effects of the Magus's cup are just contrary to that of Circe. Hers took away the shape, and left the human mind: this takes away the mind, and leaves the human shape. The only comfort such people can receive, must be owing in some shape or other to Dulness; which makes some stupid, others impudent, gives self-conceit to some, upon the flatteries of their dependants, presents the false colours of interest to others, and busies or amuses the rest with idle pleasures or sensuality, till they become easy under any infamy. Each of which species is here shadowed under allegorical persons. The true balm of dulness, called by the Greek physicians, Koλakeía, is a sovereign remedy, and has its name from the Goddess herself. Its ancient dispensators were her poets; but it is now got into as many hands as Goddard's Drops or Daffy's Elixir. It is prepared by the clergy, as appears from several places of this poem: And by ver. 534, 535, it seems as if the nobility had it made up in their own houses. This, which opera is here said to administer, is but a spurious sort. See my Dissertation on the Silphium of the Ancients.-BENT. Scriblerus seems at a loss in this place. Speciosa mi Another (for in all what one can shine7?) Next bidding all draw near on bended knees, Some, deep Freemasons", join the silent race racula (says he) according to Horace, were the monstrous fables of the Cyclops, Læstrygons, Scylla, &c. What relation have these to the transformation of hares into larks, or of pigeons into toads? I shall tell thee. The Læstrygons spitted men upon spears, as we do larks upon skewers: and the fair pigeon turned to a toad is similar to the fair virgin Scylla ending in a filthy beast. But here is the difficulty, why pigeons in so shocking a shape should be brought to a table. Hares indeed might be cut into larks at a second dressing out of frugality: Yet that seems no probable motive, when we consider the extravagance before mentioned, of dissolving whole oxen and boars into a small vial of jelly; nay it is expressly said that all flesh is nothing in his sight. I have searched in Apicius, Pliny, and the Feast of Tremalchio, in vain: 1 can only resolve it into some mysterious superstitious rite, as it is said to be done by a priest, and soon after called a sacrifice, attended (as all ancient sacrifices were) with libation and song.-SCHIBL This good scholiast, not being acquainted with modern luxury, was ignorant that these were only the miracles of French cookery, and that particularly pigeons en crapaud were a common dish. 7 Alludes to that of Virgil, Ecl. 3. non omnia possumus omnes. 9 French terms relating to wines. 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 these qualities in his champagne, 9 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.) These lived with the utmost magnificence at Paris, and kept open tables frequented by persons of the first quality of England, and even by princes of the blood of France. The former note of Bladen is a black man, is very absurd. The manuscript here is partly obliterated, and doubtless could only have been, Wash blackamoors white, alluding to a known proverb.-SCRIBL. 10 i. e. Two dissolved into quintessence to make sauce for the third. The honour of this invention belongs to France, yet has it been excelled by our native luxury, a hundred squab turkeys being not unfrequently deposited in one pie in the bishopric of Durham: to which our Author alludes in ver. 593 of this work. 11 The Poet all along expresses a very particular concern for this silent race: he has here provided, that in case they will not waken or open (as was before proposed) to a hummingbird or cockle, yet at worst they may be made free-masons; where taciturnity is the only essential qualification, as it was the chief of the disciples of Pythagoras. 12 A sort of lay-brothers, slips from the root of the free masons. The last, not least in honour or applause, Then blessing all, Go, children of my care! The judge to dance his brother sergeant call4; We should be unjust to the reign of Dulness not to confess that hers has one advantage in it rarely to be met with in modern governments, which is, that the public education of her youth fits and prepares them for the observance of her laws, and the exertion of those virtues she recommends. For what makes men prouder than the empty knowledge of words; more selfish than the free-thinker's system of morals; or duller than the profession of true virtuosoship? Nor are her institutions less admirable in themselves than in the fitness of these their several relations, to promote the harmony of the whole. For she tells her sons, and with great truth, that "all her commands are easy, short, and full." For is any thing in nature more easy than the exertion of pride, more short and simple than the principle of selfishness, or more full and ample than the sphere of dulness? Thus birth, education, and wise policy, all concurring to support the throne of our Goddess, great must be the strength thereof. This speech of Dulness to her sons at parting may possibly fall short of the reader's expectation; who may imagine the Goddess might give them a charge of more consequence, and, from such a theory as is before delivered, incite them to the practice of something more extraordinary, than to personate running-footmen, jockeys, stage coachmen, &c. But if it be well considered, that whatever inclination they might have to do mischief, her sons 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 design; the Poet, I am persuaded, will be justified, and it will be allowed that these worthy persons, in their several ranks, do as much as can be expected from them. This is one of the most ingenious employments assigned, and therefore recommended only to peers of learning. Of weaving stockings of the webs of spiders, see the Phil, Trans. Alluding perhaps to that ancient and solemn dance entitled a Call of Sergeants. An ancient amusement of sovereign princes, (viz.) Achilles, Alexander, Nero; though despised by Themistocles, who was a republican.-Make senates dance, either after their prince, or to Pontoise, or Siberia. This verse is truly Homerical; as is the conclusion of Churches and chapels instantly it reach'd7; The convocation gaped, but could not speak": The vapour mild o'er each committee crept; O Muse! relate (for you can tell alone, 7 The progress of this yawn is judicious, natural, and worthy to be noted. First it seizeth the churches and chapels; then catcheth the schools, where, though the boys be unwilling to sleep, the masters are not: next Westminster-hall, much more hard indeed to subdue, and not totally put to silence even by the Goddess: then, the convocation, which though extremely desirous to speak, yet cannot even the House of Commons, justly called the sense of the nation, is lost (that is to say suspended) during the yawn ifar be it from our author to suggest it could be lost any longer!) but it spreadeth at large over all the rest of the kingdom, to such a degree, that Palinurus himself (though as incapable of sleeping as Jupiter) yet noddeth for a moment: the effect of which, though ever so momentary, could not but cause some relaxation, for the time, in all public affairs.—SCRIBL. 8 An epithet from the age she had just then restored, according to that sublime custom of the Easterns, in calling new-born princes after some great and recent event. SCRIBL. • Implying a great desire so to do, as the learned scholiast on the place rightly observes. Therefore beware, reader, lest thou take this gape for a yawn, which is attended with no desire but to go to rest; by no means the disposition of the convocation; whose melancholy case in short is this: she was, it is reported, infected with the general influence of the Goddess, and while she was yawning at her ease, a wanton courtier took her at this advantage, and in the very nick clapped a gag into her mouth. Well therefore may she be distinguished by her gaping; and this distressful posture it is our Poet would describe, just as she stands at this day, a sad example of the effects of dulness and malice unchecked and despised.-BENT. 10 These verses were written many years ago, and may be found in the state poems of that time. So that Scriblerus is mistaken, or whoever else have imagined this poem of a fresher date. 11 This seems to be the reason why the poets, whenever Πληθὺν δ ̓ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι, οὐδ ̓ ὀνομήνω, And Virgil, Æn. 7. Et meministis enim, Diva, et memorare polestis: In vain, in vain, the all-composing hour Resistless falls: the Muse obeys the power. She comes! she comes! the sable throne behold? Of Night primeval, and of Chaos old! Before her, Fancy's gilded clouds decay, And all its varying rainbows die away. Wit shoots in vain its momentary fires, The meteor drops, and in a flash expires. As one by one, at dread Medea's strain, The sickening stars fade off the ethereal plain; As Argus' eyes by Hermes' wand opprest, Closed one by one to everlasting rest; Thus at her felt approach, and secret might, Art after art goes out, and all is night. See skulking Truth to her old cavern fled 4, Mountains of casuistry heap'd o'er her head! Philosophy, that lean'd on Heaven before 5, Shrinks to her second cause, and is no more. But our Poet had yet another reason for putting this task upon the Muse, that all besides being asleep, she only could relate what passed.-SCRIBL. 1 It would be a problem worthy the solution of Aristarchus himself, and (perhaps not of less importance than some of those weighty questions so long and warmly disputed amongst Homer's scholiasts, as, in which hand Venus was wounded, and what Jupiter whispered in the ear of Juno) to inform us, which required the greatest effort of our Goddess's power, to entrance 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 expense of her virtue to entrance than barely to quiet.-SCRIBL. The sable thrones of Night and Chaos, here represented 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 greater work. 3 Et quamvis sopor est oculorum parte receptus, Parte tamen vigilat Vidit Cyllenius omnes Succubuisse oculos, &c. OVID. Met. 2. Alluding to the saying 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. Philosophy has at length brought things to that pass, as to have it esteemed unphilosophical to rest in the first cause; as if its ends were an endless indagation of cause after cause, without ever coming to the first. So that to avoid this unlearned disgrace, some of the propagators of our best philosophy have had recourse to the contrivance here hinted at. For this philosophy, which is founded in the principle of gravitation, first considered that property in matter, as something extrinsical to it, and impressed immediately by God upon it. Which fairly and modestly coming up to the first cause, was pushing natural inqui Physic of Metaphysic begs defence, In vain! they gaze, turn giddy, rave, and die. ries as far as they should go. But this stopping, though | at the extent of our ideas, was mistaken by foreign philosophers as recurring to the occult qualities of the Peripa tetics. To avoid which imaginary discredit to the new theory, it was thought proper to seek for the cause of gravitation in a certain elastic fluid, which pervaded all body. By this means, instead of really advancing in natural inquiries, we were brought back again by this ingenious expedient to an unsatisfactory second cause: for it might still, by the same kind of objection, be asked, what was the cause of that elasticity? See this folly censured, ver. 475. • Certain writers, as Mallebranche, Norris, and others, have thought it of importance, in order to secure the existence of the soul, to bring in question the reality of body; which they have attempted to do by a very refined metaphysical reasoning: while others of the same party, in order to persuade us of the necessity of a revelation which promises immortality, have been as anxious to prove that those qualities which are commonly supposed to belong only to an immaterial being, are but the result from the sensations of matter, and the soul naturally mortal. Thus between these different reasonings, they have left us neither soul nor body: nor the sciences of physics and metaphysics the least support, by making them depend upon and go a begging to one another. 7 A sort of men (who make human reason the adequate measure of all truth) having pretended that whatsoever is not fully comprehended by it, is contrary to it; certain defenders of religion, who would not be outdone in a paradox, have gone as far in the opposite folly, and attempted to show that the mysteries of religion may be mathematically demonstrated; as the authors of philosophic, or astronomic principles, natural and revealed. 8 Blushing, not only at the view of these her false supports in the present overflow of dulness, but at the memory of the past; when the barbarous learning of so many ages was solely employed in corrupting the simplicity, and defiling the purity of religion. 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. 9 It appears from hence that our Poet was of very different sentiments from the author of the Characteristics, who has written a formal treatise on virtue, to prove it not only real but durable, without the support of religion. The word unawares alludes to the confidence of those men who suppose that morality would flourish best without it, and consequently to the surprise such would be in, (if any such there are) who indeed love virtue, and yet can to root out the religion of their country. L. PREFACE APPENDIX. PARFIXED TO THE FIVE FIRST IMPERFECT EDITIONS OF THE THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER. Ir will be found a true observation, though somewhat surprising, that when any scandal is vented against a man of the highest distinction and character, either in the state or in literature, the public in general afford it a most quiet reception; and the larger part accept it as favourably as if it were some kindness done to themselves: whereas if a known scoundrel or blockhead but chance to be touched upon, a whole legion is up in arms, and it becomes the common cause of all scribblers, booksellers, and printers whatsoever. Not to search too deeply into the reason hereof, I will only observe as a fact, that every week for these two months past, the town has been persecuted with 2 pamphlets, advertisements, letters, Who he was is uncertain; but Edward Ward tells us, in his preface to Durgen, "that most judges are of opinion this preface is not of English extraction, but Hibernian," &c. He means it was written by Dr. Swift, who, whether publisher or not, may be said in a sort to be author of the poem: for when he, together with Mr. Pope (for reasons specified in the preface to their Miscellanies), determined to own the most trifling pieces in which they had any hand, and to destroy all that remained in their power; the first sketch of this poem was snatched from the fire by Dr. Swift, who persuaded his friend to proceed in it, and to him it was therefore inscribed. But the occasion of printing it was as follows. There was published in those miscellanies, a Treatise of the Bathos, or Art of Sinking in Poetry, in which was a chapter, where the species of bad writers were ranged in classes, and initial letters of names prefixed, for the most part at random. But such was the number of poets eminent in that art, that some one or other took every letter to himself. All fell into so violent a fury, that for half a year, or more, the common newspapers (in most of which they had some property, as being hired writers) were filled with the most abusive falsehoods and scurrilities they could possibly devise: a liberty no ways to be wondered at in those people, and in those papers, that, for many years, during the uncontrolled license of the press, had aspersed almost all the great characters of the age; and this with impunity, their own persons and names being utterly secret and obscure. This gave Mr. Pope the thought, that he had now some opportunity of doing good, by detecting and dragging into light these common enemies of mankind; since to invalidate this universal slander, it sufficed to show what contemptible men were the authors of it. He was not without hopes, that by manifesting the dulness of those who had only malice to recommend them, either the booksellers would not find their account in employing them; or the men themselves, when discovered, want courage to proceed in so unlawful an occupation. This it was that gave birth to the Dunciad; and he thought it a happiness, that by the late flood of slander on himself, be had acquired such a peculiar right over their names as was necessary to his design. See the list of those anonymous papers, with their istes and authors annexed, inserted before the poem. and weekly essays, not only against the wit and writings, but against the character and person of Mr. Pope. And that of all those men who have received pleasure from his works, which by modest computation may be about a 3 hundred thousand in these kingdoms of England and Ireland; (not to mention Jersey, Guernsey, the Orcades, those in the new world, and foreigners who have translated him into their languages) of all this number not a man hath stood up to say one word in his defence. The only exception is the 4author of the following poem, who doubtless had either a better insight into the grounds of this clamour, or a better opinion of Mr. Pope's integrity, joined with a greater personal love for him, than any other of his numerous friends and admirers. Farther, that he was in his peculiar intimacy, appears from the knowledge he manifests of the most private authors of all the anonymous pieces against him, and from his having in this poem attackeds no man living, who had not before printed, or published, some scandal against this gentleman. How I came possessed of it, is no concern to the reader; but it would have been a wrong to him had I detained the publication; since those names which are its chief ornaments die off daily so fast, as must render it too soon unintelligible. If it provoke the author to give us a more perfect edition, I have my end. 6 Who he is I cannot say, and (which is great pity) there is certainly nothing in his style and manner of writing which can distinguish or discover him for if it bears any resemblance to that of Mr. Pope, 'tis not improbable but it might be done on purpose, with a view to have it pass for his. But by the frequency of his allusions to Virgil, and a laboured (not to say affected) shortness in imitation of him, I should think him more 3 It is surprising with what stupidity this preface, which is almost a continued irony, was taken by those authors. All such passages as these were understood by Curl, Cook, Cibber, and others, to be serious. Hear the laureate (letter to Mr. Pope, p. 9). "Though I grant the Dunciad a better poem of its kind than ever was writ; yet, when I read it with those vain-glorious encumbrances of notes and remarks upon it, &c.-it is amazing, that you, who have writ with such masterly spirit upon the ruling passion, should be so blind a slave to your own, as not to see how far a low avarice of praise," &c. taking it for granted that the notes of Scriblerus and others, were the author's own). 4 A very plain irony, speaking of Mr. Pope himself. 5 The publisher in these words went a little too far: but it is certain whatever names the reader finds that are unknown to him, are of such; and the exception is only of two or three, whose dulness, impudent scurrility, or self-conceit, all mankind agreed to have justly entitled them to a place in the Dunciad. 6 This irony had small effect in concealing the author. The Dunciad, imperfect as it was, had not been published two days, but the whole town gave it to Mr. Pope. an admirer of the Roman poet than of the Grecian, and in that not of the same taste with his friend. I have been well informed, that this work was the labour of full six years of his life, and that he wholly retired himself from all the avocations and pleasures of the world, to attend diligently to its correction and perfection; and six years more he intended to bestow upon it, as it should seem by this verse of Statius which was cited at the head of his manuscript, Oh mihi bissenos multum vigilata per annos, Hence also we learn the true title of the poem ; which with the same certainty as we call that of Homer the Iliad, of Virgil the Æneid, of Camoens the Lusiad, we may pronounce could have been, and can be no other than the DUNCIAD. It is styled heroic, as being doubly so; not only with respect to its nature, which according to the best rules of the ancients, and strictest ideas of the moderns, is critically such; but also with regard to the heroical disposition and high courage of the writer, who dared to stir up such a formidable, irritable, and implacable race of mortals. There may arise some obscurity in chronology from the names in the poem, by the inevitable removal of some authors, and insertion of others, in their niches. For whoever will consider the unity of the whole design, will be sensible, that the poem was not made for these authors, but these authors for the poem. I should judge that they were clapped in as they rose, fresh and fresh, and changed from day to day; in like manner as when the old boughs wither, we thrust new ones into a chimney. I would not have the reader too much troubled or anxious, if he cannot decipher them; since, when he shall have found them out, he will probably know no more of the persons than before. Yet we judged it better to preserve them as they are, than to change them for fictitious names; by which the satire would only be multiplied, and applied to many instead of one. Had the hero, for instance, been called Codrus, how many would have affirmed him to have been Mr. T., Mr. E., Sir R. B., &c., but now all that unjust scandal is saved by calling him by a name, which by good luck happens to be that of a real person. This also was honestly and seriously believed by divers gentlemen of the Dunciad. J. Ralph, pref. to Sawney. We are told it was the labour of six years, with the utmost assiduity and application: it is no great compliment to the author's sense, to have employed so large a part of his life," &c. So also Ward, pref to Durgen: "The Dunciad, as the publisher very wisely confesses, cost the author six years retirement from all the pleasures of life; though it is somewhat difficult to conceive, from either its bulk or beauty, that it could be so long in hatching, &c But the length of time and closeness of application were mentioned to prepossess the reader with a good opinion of it." They just as well understood what Scriblerus said of the poem. 2 The prefacer to Curl's Key, p 3, took this word to be really in Statius: "By a quibble on the word Duncia, the Dunciad is formed." Mr. Ward also follows him in the same opinion. II A LIST OF BOOKS, PAPERS, AND VERSES, IN WHICH OUR AUTHOR WAS ABUSED, BEFORE THE PUBLI CATION OF THE DUNCIAD; WITH THE TRUE NAMES OF THE AUTHORS. REFLECTIONS critical and satirical on a late Rhapsody, called An Essay on Criticism. By Mr. Dennis, printed by B. Lintot, price 6d. A New Rehearsal, or Bays the younger; containing an Examen of Mr. Row's plays, and a word or two on Mr. Pope's Rape of the Lock. Anon. [by Charles Gildon] printed for J. Roberts, 1714, price 1s. Homerides, or a Letter to Mr. Pope, occasioned by his intended translation of Homer. By Sir Iliad Dogrel. [Tho. Burnet and G. Ducket esquires] printed for W. Wilkins, 1715, price 9d. Æsop at the Bear Garden; a vision, in imitation of the Temple of Fame. By Mr. Preston. Sold by John Morphew, 1715, price 6d. The Catholic Poet, or Protestant Barnaby's Sorrowful Lamentation; a Ballad about Homer's Iliad. By Mrs. Centlivre, and others, 1715, price ld. An Epilogue to a Puppet-show at Bath, concerning the said Iliad. By George Ducket, Esq., printed by E. Curl. A complete Key to the What d'ye call it. Anon. [by Griffin, a player, supervised by Mr. Th—~] printed by J. Roberts, 1715. A true Character of Mr. P. and his writings, in a letter to a friend. Anon. [Dennis] printed for S. Popping, 1716, price 3d. The Confederates, a Farce. By Joseph Gay [J. D. Breval] printed for R. Burleigh, 1717, price 1s. Remarks upon Mr. Pope's translation of Homer; with two letters concerning the Windsor Forest, and the Temple of Fame. By Mr. Dennis, printed for E. Curl, 1717, price 1s. 6d. Satyrs on the translators of Homer, Mr. P. and Mr. T. Anon. [Bez. Morris] 1717, price 6d. The Triumvirate; or, a Letter from Palemon to Celia at Bath. Anon. [Leonard Welsted] 1711, folio, price 1s. The Battle of Poets, an heroic poem. By Tho. Cooke, printed for J. Roberts, folio, 1725. Memoirs of Lilliput. Anon. [Eliza Haywood] octavo, printed in 1727. An Essay on Criticism, in prose. By the Author of the Critical History of England [J. Oldmixon] octavo, printed 1728. Gulliveriana and Alexandriana; with an ample preface and critique on Swift and Pope's Miscel lanies. By Jonathan Smedley, printed by J. Roberts, octavo, 1728. Characters of the Times; or, an account of the writings, characters, &c., of several gentlemen libelled by Sand P, in a late Miscellany. Octavo, 1728. Remarks on Mr. Pope's Rape of the Lock, in letters to a friend. By Mr. Dennis; written in 1724, though not printed till 1728, octavo. VERSES, LETTERS, ESSAYS, OR ADVERTISEMENTS, IN THE PUBLIC PRINTS. British Journal, Nov. 25, 1727. A Letter on Swift and Pope's Miscellanies. [Writ by M. Concanen.] |