Tis thus aspiring Dulness ever shines), Buft on her lap her laureate son reclinés. There sunk Thalia, nerveless, cold, and dead, Beneath her footstool, science groans in chains, And wit dreads exile, penalties, and pains. There foam'd rebellious logic, gagg'd and bound; There, stripp'd, fair rhetoric languish'd on the ground; His blunted arms by sophistry are borne, And shameless Billingsgate her robes adoru. Morality, by her false guardians drawn, Chicane in furs, and casuistry in lawn, Gasps, as they straighten at each end the cord, And dies, when Dulness gives her Page the word. Mad Mathesis alone was unconfined, Too mad for mere material chains to bind, Now to pure space lifts her ecstatic stare, Now running round the circle, finds it square. But held in tenfold bonds the Muses lie, Watch'd both by Envy's and by Flattery's eye; There to her heart sad Tragedy address'd The dagger wont to pierce the tyrant's breast; But sober History restrain'd her rage, And promised vengeance on a barbarous age. REMARKS. 'O Cara Cara! silence all that train: Ver. 20. her laureate son reclines.] With great judgment it is imagined by the poet, that such a colleague as Dulness had elected, should sleep on the throne, and have very little share in the action of the poem. Accordingly he hath done little or nothing from the day of his ancinting; having passed through the second book without taking part in any thing that was transacted about him; and through the third in profound sleep. Nor ought this, well considered, to seem strange in our days, when so many king-consorts have done the like. Scribl. This verse our excellent laureate took so to heart, that he appealed to all mankind, if he was not as seldom asleep as any fool! But it is hoped the poet hath not injured him, but rather verified his prophecy (p. 243 of his own Life, 8vo. ch. ix.) where he says, 'the reader will be as much pleased to find me a dunce in my old age, as he was to prove me a brisk blockhead in my youth. Wherever there was any room for briskness, or alacrity of any sort, even in sinking, he hath had it allowed; but here, where there is nothing for him to do but to take his natural rest, he must permit his historian to be silent. It is from their actions only that princes have their character, and poets from their works: and if in those he be as much asleep as any fool, the poet must leave him and them to sleep to all eternity. Bentl. Ibid. her laureate] When I find my name in the satirical works of this poet, I never look upon it as any malice meant to me, but profit to himself. For he considers that my face is more known than most in the nation; and therefore a lick at the laureate will be a sure bait ad captandum vulgus, to catch little readers.' Life of Colley Cibber, ch. ii. Now if it he certain, that the works of our poet have owed their success to this ingenious expedient, we hence derive an unanswerable argument, that this fourth Dunciad, as well as the former three, hath had the author's last hand, and was by him intended for the press or else to what purpose hath he crowned it, as we see, by this finishing stroke, the profitable lick at the laureate ? Bentl. Ver. 21. 22. Beneath her footstool, &c.] We are next presented with the picture of those whom the goddess leads in captivity. Science is only depressed and confined so as to be rendered useless; but wit or genius, as a more dangerous and active enemy, punished, or driven away: Dulness being often reconciled in some degree with learning, but never upon any terms with wit. And accordingly it will be seen that she admits something like each science, as casuistry, sophistry, &c. but nothing like wit, opera alone supplying its place. Ver. 30. gives her Page the word.] There was a judge of this name, always ready to hang any man that came before him, of which he was suffered to give a hundred miserable_examples, during a long life, even to his dotage. Though the candid Scriblerus imagined Page here to mean no more than a page or mute, and to allude to the custom of strangling state criminals in Turkey by mutes or pages. A practice more decent than that of our Page, who before he hanged any one, loaded bim with reproachful language. Scribl. Ver. 39. But sober History] History attends on tragedy, satire on comedy, as their substitutes in the discharge of their distinct functions; the one in high life, recording the crimes and punishments of the great; the sther in low, exposing the vices or follies of the common REMARKS. 50 60 70 people. But it may be asked, how came history and satire to be admitted with impunity to minister comfort to the Muses, even in the presence of the goddess, and in the midst of all her triumphs? A question, says Scriblerus, which we thus resolve: History was brought up in her infancy by Dulness herself; but being afterwards espoused into a noble house, she forgot (as is usual) the humility of her birth, and the cares of her early friends. This occasioned a long estrangement. between her and Dulness. At length, in process of time, they met together in a monk's cell, were reconciled, and became better friends than ever. After this they had a second quarrel, but it held not long, and are now again on reasonable terms, and so are likely to continue.' This accounts for the connivance shewn to history on this occasion. But the boldness of satire springs from a very different cause; for the reader ought to know, that she alone of all the sisters is unconquerable, never to be silenced, when truly inspired and animated (as should seem) from above, for this very purpose, to oppose the kingdom of Dulness to her last breath. Ver. 43. Nor couldst thou, &c.] This noble person in the year 1737, when the act aforesaid was brought into the house of Lords, opposed it in an excellent speech,' says Mr. Cibber, with a lively spirit, and uncommon eloquence.' This speech had the honour to be answered by the said Mr. Cibber, with a lively spirit also, and in a manner very uncommon, in the eighth chapter of his Life and Manners. And here, gentle reader, would I gladly insert the other speech, whereby thou mightest judge between them; but I must defer it on account of some differences not yet adjusted between the noble author and myself, concerning the true reading of certain passages. Bentl. Ver. 45. When lo! a harlot form] The attitude given to this phantom represents the nature and genius of the Italian opera; its affected airs, effeminate sounds, and the practice of patching up these operas with favourite songs, incoherently put together. These things were supported by the subscriptions of the nobility. This circumstance, that opera should prepare for the opening of the grand sessions, was prophesied of in Book iii. ver. 305. 'Already Opera prepares the way, The sure forerunner of her gentle sway.' Ver. 54. Let division reign:] Alluding to the false taste of playing tricks in music with numberless divisions, to the neglect of that harmony which conforms to the sense, and applies to the passions. Mr. Handel bad introduced a great number of hands, and more variety of instruments into the orchestra, and employed even drums and cannon to make a fuller chorus; which proved so much too manly for the fine gentlemen of his age, that he was obliged to remove his music into Ireland. After which they were reduced, for want of com Dosers, to practise the patch-work above-mentioned. The young, the old, who feel her inward sway, The gathering number, as it moves along, Nor absent they, no members of her state, There march'd the bard and blockhead side by side, Who rhymed for hire, and patronized for pride. Narcissus, praised with all a parson's power Look'd a white lily sunk beneath a shower. On whom three hundred gold-capp'd youths await, When Dulness smiling:-Thus revive the wits! But murder first, and mince them all to bits; As erst Medea (cruel, so to save!) A new edition of old son gave; REMARKS. Let standard-authors, thus, like trophies borne, A page, a grave, that they can call their own; But spread, my sons, your glory thin or thick, 80 On passive paper, or on solid brick. So by each bard an alderman shall sit, A heavy lord shall hang at every wit, And while on Fame's triumphal car they ride, Some slave of mine be pinion'd to their side.' Now crowds on crowds around the goddess press, Each eager to present the first address. Dunce scorning dunce behold the next advance, But fop shews fop superior complaisance. When, lo! a spectre rose, whose index-hand 90 Held forth the virtue of the dreadful wand; His beaver'd brow a birchin garland wears, Dropping with infant's blood, and mother's tears. O'er every vein a shuddering horror runs ; Eaton and Winton shake through all their sons. All flesh is humbled, Westminster's bold race Shrink, and confess the genius of the place: The pale boy-senator yet tingling stands, And holds his breeches close with both his hands. Then thus, since man from beast by words is known, Words are man's province, words we teach alone. When reason doubtful, like the Samian letter, Points him two ways, the narrower is the better 100 110 120 Ver. 76 to 101. It ought to be observed that here are three classes in this assembly. The first, of men absolutely and avowedly dull, who naturally adhere to the goddess, and are imaged in the simile of the bees about their queen. The second involuntary drawn to her, though not caring to own her influence; from ver. 81 to 90. The third of such as, though not members of her state, yet advance her service by flattering Dulness, cultivating mistaken talents, patronising vile scribblers, discouraging living merit, or setting up for wits, and men of taste in arts they understand not; from ver. 91 to 101. Ver. 108.-bow'd from side to side:] As being of no one party. Ver. 110. bold Benson] This man endeavoured to raise himself to fame by erecting monuments, striking coins, setting up heads, and procuring translations of Milton; and afterwards by as great a passion for Arthur Johnston, a Scotch physician's Version of the Psalms, of which he printed many fine editions. See more of him, Book iii. ver. 325. Ver. 113. The decent knight] An eminent person who was about to publish a very pompous edition of a great author at his own expense. Ver. 115, &c.] These four lines were printed in a separate leaf by Mr. Pope in the last edition, which he himself gave, of the Dunciad, with directions to the printer, to put this leaf into its place as soon as Sir T. H.'s Shakspeare should be published. Ver. 119. Thus revive,' &c.] The goddess applauds the practice of tacking the obscure names of persons not eminent in any branch of learning, to those of the most distinguished writers; either by printing editions of their works with impertinent alterations of their text, as in former instances; or by setting up monuments disgraced with their own vile names and inscriptions, as in the latter. REMARKS. 130 140 150. Ver. 129. A page, a grave,] For what less than a grave can be granted to a dead author! or what less than a page can be allowed a living one? Ibid. A page,] Pagina, not pedissequus. A page of a book, not a servant, follower, or attendant; no poet having had a page since the death of Mr. Thomas Durfey. Scribl. Ver. 131. So by each bard an alderman, &c.] Vide the Tombs of the Poets,editio Westmonasteriensis. Ibid.-an aldeman shall sit,] Alluding to the monument erected for Butler by alderman Barber. Ver. 132. A heavy lord shall hang at every wit,] How unnatural an image, and how ill supported! saith Aristarchus. Had it been, A heavy wit shall hang at every lord, something might have been said, in an age so distinguished for well judging patrons. For lord, then, read load; that is, of debts here, and of commentaries hereafter. To this purpose, conspicuous is the case of the poor author of Hudibras, whose body, long since weighed down to the grave by a load of debts, has lately had a more unmercifui load of commentaries laid upon his spirit; wherein the editor has achieved more than Virgil himself, when he turned critic, could boast of, which was only, that he had picked gold out of another man's dung; whereas the editor has picked it out of his own. Aristarchus thinks the common reading right and that the author himself had been struggling, and but just shaken off his load, when he wrote the following epigram: My lord complains, that Pope, stark mad with gardens Has lopp'd three trees, the value of three farthings: But he's my neighbour, cries the peer polite, And if he'll visit me, I'll wave my right. What! on compulsion? and against my will, A lord's acquaintance? Let him file his bill. Ver. 137, 138. Dunce scorning dunce behold the next advance, But fop shews fop superior complaisance.] This is not to be ascribed so much to the different manners of a court and college, as to the different effects which a pretence to learning and a pretence to wit, have on blockheads. For as judgment consists in finding out the differences in things, and wit in finding out their likenesses, so the dunce is all discord and dissension, and constantly busied in reproving, examining, confuting, &c. while the fop flourishes in peace, with songs and hymns of praise, addresses, characters, epithalamiums, &c. Ver. 140. the dreadful wand;] A cane usually bcrne by schoolmasters, which drives the poor souls about like the wand of Mercury Scribl. Ver. 151 like the Samian letter.] The letter Y used by Pythagoras, as an emblem of the different roads of virtue and vice. Et tibi quæ Samios diduxit litera ramos. Pers. Placed at the door of learning, youth to guide, Oh,' cried the goddess, for some pedant reign! That which my priests, and mine alone, maintain, As many quit the streams that murmuring fall REMARKS. 200 210 220 literal sense, when no apparent absurdity accompanies it (and sure there is no absurdity in supposing a logi180 cian on horseback), yet still I must needs think the hackneys here celebrated were not real horses, nor even Centaurs, which, for the sake of the learned Chiron, I should rather be inclined to think, if I were forced to find them four legs, but downright plain men, though logicians and only thus metamorphosed by a rule of rhetoric, of which Cardinal Perron gives us an example, where he calls Clavius, Un esprit pesant, lourd, sans subtilité, ni gentilesse, un gros cheval d'Allemagne. Here I profess to go opposite to the whole stream of 190 commentators. I think the poet only aimed, though awkwardly, at an elegant Græcism in this representation; for in that language the word 'inπos (horse) was often prefixed to others, to denote greatness of strength; as ἱππολάπαθον, ἱππόγλωσσον, ἱππομαραθρον, and particularly ППогÑÓмÓN, a great connoisseur, which Scip. Maff. Came whip and spur, and dash'd through thin and thick comes nearest to the case in hand. graces. This great prince was the first who assumed the title of Sacred Majesty, which his loyal clergy transferred from God to him. The principles of passive obedience and non-resistance,' says the author of the Dissertation on Parties, Letter, 8, which before his time had skulked, perhaps in some old, homily, were talked, written, and preached into vogue in that inglorious reign. Ver. 194. Though Christ-church, &c.] This line is doubtless spurious, and foisted in by the impertinence of the editor; and accordingly we have put it in between hooks. For I affirm this college came as early as any other, by its proper deputies; nor did any college pay homage to Dulness in its whole body. Bentl. Ver. 196. still expelling Locke.] In the year 1703 there was a meeting of the heads of the University of Oxford to censure Mr. Locke's Essay on Human Understanding, and to forbid the reading of it. See his Letters in the last edition. Ver. 198. On German Crouzaz, and Dutch Burgersdyck. There seems to be an improbability that the doctors and heads of houses should ride on horseback, who of late days, being gouty or unwieldy, have kept their coaches, But these are horses of great strength, and fit to carry any weight, as their German and Dutch extraction may manifest; and very famous we may conclude, being honoured with names, as were the horses Pegasus and Bucephalus. Scribl. Though I have the greatest deference to the penetration of this eminent scholiast, and must own that nothing can be more natural than his interpretation, or juster than that rule of criticism, which directs us to keep the Ver. 199. the streams] The river Cam, running by the walls of these colleges, which are particularly famous for their skill in disputation. Ver. 202. sleeps in port. Viz. Now retired into harbour, after the tempests that had long agitated his society. So Scriblerus. But the learned Scipio Maffei understands it of a certain wine called Port, from Oporto, a city of Portugal, of which this professor invited him to drink abundantly. Scip. Maff. De Compotationibus Academicis. [And to the opinion of Maffei inclineth the sagacious annotator on Dr. King's Advice to Horace.] Ver. 210. Aristarchus.] A famous commentator and corrector of Homer, whose name has been frequently used to signify a complete critic. The compliment paid by our author to this eminent professor, in applying to him so great a name, was the reason that he hath omitted to comment on this part which contains his own praises. We shall, therefore, supply that loss to our best ability. Scribl. Ver. 214. Critics like me-] Alluding to two famous editions of Horace and Milton; whose richest veins of poetry he had prodigally reduced to the poorest and most beggarly prose. Verily the learned scholiastis grievously mistaken. Aristarchus is not boasting here of the wonders of his art in annihilating the sublime; but of the usefulness of it, in reducing the turgid to its proper that prose it was, though ashamed of its original, and class; the words 'make it prose again,' plainly shewing therefore to prose it should return. Indeed, much it is to be lamented that Dulness doth not confine her critics to this useful task; and commission them to dismount what Aristophanes calls Pnμat' innoCaμova, all prose on horse-back. Scribl. Ver. 216 Author of something yet more great than letter;] Alluding to those grammarians, such as Palamedes and Simonides, who invented single letters. But Aristarchus, who had found out a double one, was there. fore worthy of double honour. Scribl. Ver. 217, 218. While towering o'er your alphabet, like Saul,-Stands, our digamma,] Alludes to the boasted restoration of the Eolic digamma, in his long projected edition of Homer. He calls it something more than letter, from the enormous figure it would make among the other letters, being one gamma, set upon the shoulders of another. Ver. 220. of Me or Te,] It was a serious dispute, about which the learned were much divided, and some To sound or sink in cano O or A, Or give up Cicero to C or K. Let Freind affect to speak as Terence spoke, Or chew'd by blind old scholiasts o'er and o'er, Are things which Kuster, Burman, Wasse shall see, Ah, think not, mistress! more true Dulness lies Or wed to what he must divorce, a muse: REMARKS. Then take him to develop, if you can, In flow'd at once a gay embroider'd race, 240 260 treatises written: had it been about meum and tuum it could not be more contested, than whether at the end of the first Ode of Horace, to read, Me doctarum hedera præmia frontium, or Te doctarum hedera-By this the learned scholiast would seem to insinuate that the dispute was not about meum and tuum, which is a mistake: For as a venerable sage observeth, words are the counters of wise men, but the money of fools: so that we see their property was indeed concerned. Scribl. Ver. 222. Or give up Cicero to C or K] Grammatical disputes about the manner of pronouncing Cicero's name in Greek. It is a dispute whether in Latin the name of Hermagoras should end in as or a. Quintilian quotes Cicero as writing it, Hermagora, which Bentley rejects, and says, Quintilian must be mistaken, Cicero could not write it so, and that in this case he would not believe Cicero himself. These are his very words: Ego vero Ciceronem ita scripsisse ne Ciceroni quidem affirmanti crediderim. Epist. ad Mill. in fin. Frag. Menand. et Phil. Ver. 223, 224. Freind-Alsop] Dr. Robert, Freind. master of Westminster-school, and canon of Christ church-Dr. Anthony Alsop, a happy imitator of the Horatian style. Ver. 226. Manilius and Solinus] Some critics having had it in their choice to comment either on Virgil or Manilius, Pliny or Solinus, have chosen the worse au thor, the more freely to display their critical capacity. Ver. 228, &c. Suidas, Gellius, Stobus] The first a dictionary-writer, a collector of impertinent facts and barbarous words; the second a minute critic; the third an author, who gave his common place book to the public, where we happen to find much mince-meat of old books. Ver. 245, 246. Barrow, Atterbury] Isaac Barrow, master of Trinity, Francis Atterbury, dean of Christchurch, both great geniuses and eloquent preachers; one more conversant in the sublime geometry, the other in classical learning; but who equally made it their care to advance the polite arts in their several-societies. To happy convents, bosom'd deep in vines, Where slumber abbots purple as their wines: To isles of fragrance, lily-silver'd vales, 270 230 290 300 Diffusing langour in the panting gales: REMARKS. Because gold Ver. 272. laced governor] Why laced? and silver are necessary trimming to denote the dress of a person of rank, and the governor must be supposed so in foreign countries, to be admitted into courts and other places of fair reception. But how comes Aristarchus to know at sight that this governor came from France? Know? Why, by the laced coat. Scribl. Ibid. Whore, pupil, and laced governor] Some critics have objected to the order here, being of opinion that the governor should have the precedence before the whore, if not before the pupil. But were he so placed, it might be thought to insinuate that the governor led the pupil to the whore; and were the pupil placed first, he might be supposed to lead the governor to her. But our impartial poet, as he is drawing their picture, represents then in the order in which they are generally seen; namely, the pupil between the whore and the governor; but placeth the whore first, as she usually governs both the other. Ver. 280. As if he saw St. James's] Reflecting on the disrespectful and indecent behaviour of several forward young persons in the presence, so offensive to all serious men, and to none more than the good Scriblerus. Ver. 281. The attendant orator] The governor above said. The poet gives him no particular name: being unwilling, I presume, to offend or to do injustice to any, by celebrating one only with whom this character agrees, in preference to so many who equally deserve it. Ver. 284. A dauntless infant! never scared with God] i. e. Brought up in the enlarged principles of modern education; whose great point is, to keep the infant mind free from the prejudices of opinion, and the growing spirit unbroken by terrifying names. Amongst the happy consequences of this reformed decipline, it is not the least that we have never afterwards any occasion for the priest, whose trade, as a modern wit informs us, is only to finish what the nurse began. Ver. 286. the blessing of a rake.] Scriblerus is here much at a loss to find out what this blessing should be.. He is sometimes tempted to imagine it might be the marrying a great fortune: but this again, for the vul garity of it, he rejects, as something uncommon seemed to be prayed for: and after many strange conceits, not at all to the honour of the fair sex, he at length rests in this, that it was, that her son might pass for a wit: in which opinion he fortifies himself by ver. 316, where the olator, speaking of his pupil, says, that he Intrigued with glory, and with spirit whored, But chief her shrine where naked Venus keeps, As Jansen, Fleetwood, Cibber shall think fit; This glorious youth, and add one Venus more. REMARKS. And heard thy everlasting yawn confess 320 But Annius, crafty seer, with ebon wand, Where bask on sunny banks the simple sheep, 'Grant, gracious goddess! grant me still to cheat, 351 360 330 And keep his Lares, though his house be sold; Speak'st thou of Syrian princes? Traitor base! which seems to insinuate that her prayer was heard. Here the good scholiast, as, indeed, every where else, lays open the very soul of modern criticism, while he makes his own ignorance of a poetical expression hold open the door to much erudition and learned conjecture: the blessing of a rake signifying no more than that he might be a rake; the effects of a thing for the thing itself, a common figure. The careful mother only wished her son might be a rake, as well knowing that its attendant blessings would follow of course. Ver. 307. But chief, &c.] These two lines, in their force of imagery and colouring, emulate and equal the pencil of Rubens. Ver. 308. And Cupids ride the lion of the deeps;] The winged lion, the arms of Venice. This republic, heretofore the most considerable in Europe, for her naval force and the extent of her commerce; now illustrious for her carnivals. Ver. 318. greatly daring dined:] It being, indeed, no small risque to eat through those extraordinary compositions, whose disguised ingredients are generally unknown to the guests, and highly inflammatory and un wholesome. Ver. 324. With nothing but a solo in his head ;] With nothing but a solo? Why, if it be a solo, how should there be any thing else? Palpable tautology! Read boldly an opera, which is enough of conscience for such a head as has lost all its Latin. Bentl. Ver. 326. Jansen, Fleetwood, Cibber.] Three very eminent persons, all managers of plays: who, though not governors by profession, had, each in his way, concerned themselves in the education of youth; and regulated their wits, their morals, or their finances, at that period of their age which is the most important, their entrance into the polite world. Of the last of these, and his talents for this end, see Book i. ver. 199, &c. Ver. 331. Her too receive, &c.] This confirms what the learned Scriblerus advanced in his note on ver. 272, that the governor, as well as the pupil, had a particular interest in this lady. Ver. 341. Thee too, my Paridel !] The poet seems to speak of this young gentleman with great affection. The name is taken from Spenser, who gives it to a wandering courtly 'squire, that travelled about for the same reason for which many young 'squires are now fond of travelling, and especially to Paris. Ver. 347. Annius,] The name taken from Annius the monk of Viterbo, famous for many impositions and forgeries of ancient manuscripts and inscriptions, which he was prompted to by mere vanity, but our Annius had a more substantial motive. REMARKS. 370 Ver. 363. Attys and Cecrops] The first king of Athens, of whom it is hard to suppose any coins are extant; but not so improbable as what follows, that there should be any of Mahomet, who forbad all images; and the story of whose pigeon was a monkish fable. Nevertheless, one of these Anniuses made a counterfeit medal of that impostor, now in the collection of a learned nobleman. Ver. 371. Mummius] This name is not merely an allusion to the Mummius he was so fond of, but probably referred to the Roman general of that name, who burned Corinth, and committed the curious statues to the captain of a ship, assuring him, that if they were lost or broken, he should procure others to be made in their stead; by which it should seem (whatever may be pretended) that Mummius was no virtuoso. Ibid. Fool-renown'd] A compound epithet in the Greek manner, renowned by fools, or renowned for making fools. Ver. 372. Cheops] A king of Egypt whose body was certainly to be known, as being buried alone in his pyramid, and is therefore more genuine than any of the Cleopatras. This royal mummy, being stolen by a wild Arab, was purchased by the consul of Alexandria, and transmitted to the museum of Mummius; for proof of which he brings a passage in Sandy's Travels, where that accurate and learned voyager assures us that he saw the sepulchre empty, which agrees exactly, saith he, with the time of the theft above-mentioned. But he omits to observe that Herodotus tells the same thing of it in his time. Ver. 375. Speak'st thou of Syrian princes? &c.] The strange story following, which may be taken for a fic tion of the poet, is justified by a true relation in Spon's Voyages. Vaillant (who wrote the History of the Syrian kings as it is to be found on medals) coming from the Levant, where he had been collecting various coins, and being pursued by a corsair of Sallee, swallowed down twenty gold medals. A sudden borasque freed him from the rover, and he got to land with them in his belly. On his road to Avignon he met two physicians, of whom he Idemanded assistance. One advised purgations, the other vomits. In this uncertainty he took neither, but pursued his way to Lyons, where he found his ancient friend the famous physician and antiquary Dufour, to whom he related his adventure. Dufour, without stay. ing to inquire about the uneasy symptoms of the burthen he carried first asked him, whether the medals were of the higher empire? He assured him they were. Dufour was ravished with the hope of possessing so rare a treasure; he bargained with him on the spot for the most curious of them, and was to recover them at his own expense. |