Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

world was ever conquered by Science, bow foon those conquists were stopped, and thofe very nations again reduced to her dominion. Then diftinguishing the Island of Great Britain, fhews by what aids, by what perfons, and by what degrees, it shall be brought to ber Empire. Some of the perfons be caufes 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 furprizing and unknown to the King himself, till they are explained to be the wonders of his own reign now commencing. On this fubject Settle breaks into a congratulation, yet not unmixed with concern, that his own times were but the types of thefe He prophecies bow firft the nation fhall be overrun 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 shall prefide in the feats of Arts and Sciences: giving a glympfe, or Pifgab fight, of the future Fulness of ber Glory, the accomplishment whereof is the fubject of the fourth and last book.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

Plate XXII.

Vol. V. facing p.193.

Hayman inv.& del.

Crignion feulp.

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

Dunciad Book III.

BU

BOOK

III.

UT in her Temple's last recefs inclos'd, On Dulness' lap th' Anointed head repos'd. Him close she curtains round with Vapours blue, And foft befprinkles with Cimmerian dew. Then raptures high the feat of Senfe o'erflow, g 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:

Hence the Fool's Paradife, the Statesman's Scheme, The air-built Castle, and the golden Dream, 10 The Maid's romantic wish, the Chemist's flame, And Poet's vifion of eternal Fame.

REMARK S.

VER. 5, 6, &c. Hereby is intimated that the following Vifion is no more than the chimera of the dreamer's brain, and not a real or intended fatire on the prefent Age, doubtlefs more learned, more enlightened, and more abounding with great Genius's in Divinity, Politics, and whatever arts and sciences, than all the preceding. For fear of any fuck mistake of our Poet's honeft meaning, he hath again, at the end of the Vision, repeated this monition, faying that it all

IMITATIONS.

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

nods,

He hears loud Oracles, and talks with Gods :]

"Et varias audit voces, fruiturque deorum

"Colloquio".

VOL. V.

Virg. Æn. viii.

And now, on Fancy's eafy wing convey'd, The King defcending, views th' Elysian Shade. A flip-fhod Sibylled his steps along,

In lofty madness meditating fong;
Her treffes ftaring from Poetic dreams,

And never wafh'd, but in Caftalia's ftreams.

REMARK S.

15

paffed through the Ivory gate, which (according to the Ancients) denoteth Falfity.

SCRIBL

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

BENTL.

VER. 15. A flip-fhod Sibyl] This allegory is extremely juft; no conformation of the mind fo much fubjecting it to real Madness, as that which produces real Dulness. Hence we find the religious (as well as the poetical) Enthusiasts of all ages were ever. in their natural ftate, moft heavy and Jumpish; but on the leaft application of heat, they run like lead, which of all metals falls quickest into fufion. Whereas fire in a Genius is truly Promethean, it hurts not its conftituent parts, but only fits it (as the furnace does well-tempered fteel) for the neceffary impreffions of art. But the common people have been taught I do not know on what foundation) to regard Lunacy as a mark of Wit, juft as the Turks and our modern Methodists esteem it a mark of Holiness. But if the caufe of Madness affigned by a great Philofopher be true, it will unavoidably fall upon the Dunces. He fuppofes it to be the dwelling over long on one object or idea: Now as this attention is occafioned either by Grief or Study, it will be fixed by Dulnefs; which hath not quicknefs enough to comprehend what it feeks, nor force and vigour enough to divert the imagination from the object it laments.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 15. A flip-fhod Sibyl, etc.]

"Conclamat Vates

6.6

furens antro fe immifit aperto.'

Virg

« AnteriorContinuar »