Or swims along the fluid atmosphere, Once brightest shined this child of heat and air. The rising game, and chased from flower to flower. Make nature still encroach upon his plan, And where it fix'd, the beauteous bird I seized; 430 See all in self, and but for self be born: Rose or carnation was below my care; And to excuse it, need but show the prize; 'My sons!' she answer'd, 'both have done your 440 Live happy both, and long promote our arts. 'Be that my task,' replies a gloomy clerk, REMARKS. Of nought so certain as our reason still, Or that bright image to our fancy draw Where Tindal dictates, and Silenus snores.' 480 490 Roused at his name up rose the bowzy sire, 450 First, slave to words, then, vassal to a name, 460 REMARKS. 500 Ver. 492. Where Tindal dictates, and Silenus snores.] It cannot be denied but that this fine stroke of satire against atheism was well intended. But how must the reader smile at our author's officious zeal, when he is told, that at the time this was written, you might as soon have found a wolf in England as an atheist? The truth is, the whole species was exterminated. There is a trifling difference, indeed, concerning the author of the achievement. Some, as Dr. Ashenhurst, gave it to Bentley's Boylean Lectures. And be so well convinced that great man of the truth, that wherever afterwards he found atheist, he always read it A theist. But, in spite of a claim so well made out, others 470 gave the honour of this exploit to a later Boylean lecturer. A judicious apologist for Dr. Clarke against Mr. Whiston, says, with no less elegance than positiveness of expression, It is a most certain truth, that the Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, has extirpated and banished atheism out of the Christian world, p. 18. It is much to be lamented, that the clearest truths have still their dark side. Here we see it becomes a doubt which of the two Hercules' was the monster-queller. But what of that? Since the Scribl. Ver. 452. Wilkins' wings.] One of the first projectors thing is done, and the proof of it so certain, there is no ocof the Royal Society, who, among many enlarged and use-casion for so nice a canvassing of circumstances. ful notions, entertained the extravagant hope of a possibility Ver. 492. Silenus.] Silenus was an Epicurean philosoto fly to the moon; which has put some volatile geniuses pher, as appears from Virgil, Eclog, vi, where he sings the upon making wings for that purpose. principles of that philosophy in his drink. Ver. 462. When moral evidence shall quite decay.] Ver. 501. First slave to words, &c.] A recapitulation Alluding to a ridiculous and absurd way of some mathema-of the whole course of modern education described in this ticians, in calculating the gradual decay of moral evidence book, which confines youth to the study of words only in by mathematical proportions: according to which calcula-schools; subjects them to the authority of systems in the tion, in about fifty years it will be no longer probable that universities; and deludes them with the names of party disJulius Caesar was in Gaul, or died in the senate-house. See tinctions in the world; all equally concurring to narrow the Craig's Theologiæ Christianæ Principia Mathematica. But, understanding, and establish slavery and error in literature, as it seems evident, that facts of a thousand years old, for philosophy, and politics. The whole finished in modern instance, are now as probable as they were five hundred free-thinking: the completion of whatever is vain, wrong, years ago; it is plain, that if in fifty more they quite disap-and destructive to the bappiness of mankind; as it estapear, it must be owing, not to their arguments, but to the blishes self-love for the sole principle of action. extraordinary power of our goddess; for whose help, there- Ver. 506. Smiled on by a queen! i. e. This queen or fore, they have reason to pray. goddess of Dulness. Now to thy gentle shadow all are shrunk, But she, good goddess, sent to every child Kind self-conceit to some her glass applies, REMARKS. 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 Beeves, at his touch, at once to jelly turn, 550 The board with specious miracles he loads, 530 To three essential partridges in one? 540 Ver. 517. With that, a wizard old, &c.] Here beginneth the celebration of the greater mysteries of the goddess, which the poet, in his invocation, ver. 5, promised to sing. Gone every blush, and silent all reproach, Next, bidding all draw near on bended knees, REMARKS. Ver. 553. The board with specious miracles he loads, &c.] Scriblerus seems at a loss in this place. Speciosa miracula (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 Lastrygons spitted men upon spears as we do larks upon skewers; and the fair pigeon turned to a toad, is similar to the fair Ver. 518.-forgets his former friends.] Surely there virgin Scylla ending in a filthy beast. But here is the diffilittle needed the force of charms or magic to set aside a use- culty, why pigeons in so shocking a shape should be brought less friendship. For of all the accommodations of fashiona- to a table. Hares, indeed, might be cut into larks, at a seble life, as there are none more reputable, so there are none cond dressing, out of frugality: yet that seems no probable of so little charge as friendship. It fills up the void of life motive, when we consider the extravagance before menwith a name of dignity and respect: and at the same time tioned, of dissolving whole oxen and boars into a small vial is ready to give place to every passion that offers to dispute of jelly; nay, it is expressly said, that all flesh is nothing in possession with it. Scribl. his sight. I have searched in Appicus, Pliny, and the feast of Trimalchio, in vain; I 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. Ver. 523, 594. Lost is his God, his country--and nothing left but homage to a king!] So strange as this may seem to a mere English reader, the famous Mons, de la Bruyere 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 Republique, chap x. Scribl 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 crapeau were a common dish. Ver. 556. Seve and verdeur] French terms relating to wines, which signify their flavour and poignancy. Et je gagerois que chez le commandeur, Despreaux. Of this duty another celebrated French author speaks indeed a little more disrespectfully; which for that reason we shall not translate, but give in his own words: L'amour de la patrie, le grand motif des prémiers heros, n'est plus regardé que comme une chimère; l'idée du service du roi, etendue jusqu'à l'oubli de tout autre principe, tient lieu de ce qu'on appelloit autrefois grandeur d'ame et fidélité.'St. Evremont has a very pathetic letter to a nobleman in Boulainvilliers Hist. des Anciens Parlements de France, &c. disgrace, advising him to seek comfort in a good table, and Ver. 528. Still keep the human shape.] The effects of particularly to be attentive to these qualities in his chamthe Magus's cup, by which is allegorized a total corruption paigne. of heart, are just contrary to that of Circe, which only represents the sudden plunging into pleasures. Hers, therefore, is a black man. Ver. 560. Bladen-Hays.] Names of gamesters. Bladen Robert Knight, Cashier of the South Sea took away the shape, and left the human mind; his takes Company, who fled from England in 1720, (afterwards paraway the mind, and leaves the human shape. doned in 1742) These lived with the utmost magnificence Ver. 529. But she, good goddess, &c.] The only com-at Paris, and kept open tables frequented by persons of the fort people can receive, must be owing in some shape or first quality in England, and even by princes of the blood of other to Dulness; which makes some stupid, others impu- France. Ver. 567. Scribl. dent, gives self-conceit to some, upon the flatteries of their Ibid. Bladen, &c.] The former note of Bladen is a black dependants, presents the false colours of interest to others, man,' is very absurd. The manuscript here is partly obliand busies, or amuses the rest with idle pleasures or sen-terated, and doubtless could only have been, Wash blacksuality, till they become easy under any infamy. Each of moors white, alluding to a known proverb. which species is here shadowed under allegorical persons. Ver. 532. Cibberian forehead, or Cimmerian gloom.] i. e. she communicates to them of her own virtue, or of her roval colleagues. The Cibberian forehead being to fit them for self-conceit, self-interest, &c. and the Cimmerian gloom, for pleasures of opera and the table. Scribl. Her children first of more distinguish'd sort, I would that scholiast discharge his duty, who should neglect to honour those whom Dulness has distinguished; or Impale a glow-worm, or virtu profess, Then blessing all, 'Go, children of my care, The cap and switch be sacred to his grace; 590 600 A hundred souls of turkeys in a pie; The sturdy 'squire to Gallic masters stoop, 580 And drown his lands and manors in a soup. Others import yet nobler arts from France, Teach kings to fiddle, and make senates dance. Perhaps more high some daring son may soar, Proud to my list to add one monarch more. And, nobly conscious, princes are but things Born for first ministers, as slaves for kings, Tyrant supreme! shall three estates command, suffer them to lie forgotten, when their rare modesty would And make one mighty Dunciad of the land!' have left them nameless. Let us not, therefore, overlook More she had spoke, but yawn'd-All nature nods: the services which have been done her cause, by one Mr. What mortal can resist the yawn of gods? Thomas Edwards, a gentleman, as he is pleased to call himself, of Lincoln's-ion; but in reality, a gentleman only of Churches and chapels instantly it reach'd: the Dunciad; or, to speak him better, in the plain language (St. James's first, for leaden G- preach'd:) of our honest ancestors to such mushrooms, a gentleman of Then catch'd the schools; the Hall scarce kept the last edition: who, nobly eluding the solicitude of his careful father, very early retained himself in the cause of REMARKS. awake; Dulness against Shakspeare, and with the wit and learning The convocation gaped, but could not speak : 610 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 progress, in personal abuse. For a libeller is nothing but a Grub-street critic run to seed. REMARKS. Ver. 585. The cap and switch, &c.] The goddess's poLamentable is the Dulness of these gentlemen of the Dun-litical balance of favour, in the distribution of her rewards, ciad. This Fungoso and his friends, who are all gentlemen, deserves our notice. It consists of joining with those hohave exclaimed much against us for reflecting his birth, in nours claimed by birth and high place, others more adapted the words, a gentleman of the last edition,' which we here- to the genius and talents of the candidates. And thus her by declare concern not his birth, but his adoption only; and mean no more than that he is become a gentleman of the last edition of the Dunciad. Since gentlemen, then, are so captious, we think it proper to declare, that Mr. Thomas Thimble, who is here said to be Mr. Thomas Edward's ancestor, is only related to him by the Muse's side. Scribl. This tribe of men, which Scriblerus has here so well exemplified, our poet hath elsewhere admirably characterized in that happy line, great forerunner, John of Leyden, king of Munster, entered on his government by making his ancient friend and companion, Knipperdolling, general of his horse, and hangman. And had but fortune seconded his great schemes of refor mation, it is said he would have established his whole household on the same reasonable footing. Scribl. Ver. 590. Arachne's subtile line;] 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. Ver. 591. The judge to dance his brother serjeant call;] Alluding perhaps to that ancient and solemn dance, entitled, A call of sergeants. A brain of feathers, and a heart of lead. For the satire extends much farther than to the person who occasioned it, and takes in the whole species of those on whom a good education (to fit them for some useful and learned profession) has been bestowed in vain. That worth-ment of sovereign princes (viz.) Achilles, Alexander, Nero; less band Of ever-listless loiterers, that attend No cause, no trust, no duty, and no friend; who, with an understanding too dissipated and futile for the offices of civil life; and a heart too lumpish, narrow, and contracted for those of social, become fit for nothing; and so turn wits and critics, where sense and civility are neither required nor expected. Ver. 598. Teach kings to fiddle.] An ancient amuse though despised by Themistocles, who was a republican.Make senates dance, either after their prince, or to Pointoise, or Siberia. Ver. 606. What mortal can resist the yawn of gods?] This verse is truly Homerical; as is the conclusion of the action, where the great mother composes all, in the same manner as Minerva at the period of the Odyssey. It may, indeed, seem a very singular epitasis of a poem, to end as this does, with a great yawn; but we must consider it as the Ver. 571. Some, deep free-masons, join the silent race.] yawn of a god, and of powerful effects. It is not out of naThe poet all along expresses a very particular concern for ture; most long and grave councils concluding in this very this silent race. He has here provided, that in case they manner: nor without authority, the incomparable Spenser will not waken or open (as was before proposed) to a hum-having ended one of the most considerable of his works ming-bird or a cockle, yet at worst they may be made free-with a roar; but then it is the roar of a lion; the effects masons; where taciturnity is the only essential qualifica-thereof are described as the catastrophe of the poem. tion, as it was the chief of the disciples of Pythagoras. Ver 607. Churches and chapels, &c.] The progress of Ver. 576. A Gregorian, one a Gormogon: A sort of lay-the yawn is judicious, natural, and worthy to be noted. brothers, slips from the roots of the free-masons. First it seizeth the churches and chapels, then catcheth the Ver. 584. Each privilege your own, &c.] This speech schools, where, though the boys be unwilling to sleep, the of Dulness to her sons at parting, may possibly fall short masters are not. Next Westminster-hall, much more hard, of the reader's expectation; who may imagine the goddess indeed, to subdue, and not totally put to silence even by the might give them a charge of more consequence, and, from goddess. Then the convocation, which though extremely such a theory as is before delivered, incite them to the prac-desirous to speak, yet cannot. Even the house of comtice of something more extraordinary, than to personate mons, justly called the sense of the nation, is lost (that is to running footmen, jockeys, stage-coachmen, &c. say suspended) during the yawn; (far be it from our author But if it be well-considered, that whatever inclination to suggest it could be lost any longer!) but it spreadeth at they might have to do mischief, her sons are generally ren-large over all the rest of the kingdom to such a degree, that dered harmless by their inability; and that it is the common Palinurus himself (though as incapable of sleeping as Jupieffect of Dulness (even in her greatest efforts) to defeat her ter) yet noddeth for a moment; the effect of which, though own design; the poet, I am persuaded, will be justified, and ever so momentary, could not but cause some relaxation, it will be allowed that these worthy persons, in their several for the time, in all public affairs. Scribl. ranks, do as much as can be expected from them. Ver. 610. The convocation gaped, but could not speak;} Before her, fancy's gilded clouds decay, Lost was the nation's sense, nor could be found, See skulking truth to her old cavern fled, Till drown'd was sense, and shame, and right, and Physic of metaphysic begs defence, O sing, and hush the nations with thy song! In vain, in vain, the all-composing hour REMARKS. 630 And metaphysic calls for aid on sense! In vain! they gaze, turn giddy, rave, and die. Nor public flame, nor private dares to shine; REMARKS. 610 650 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, as is reported, infected with the general influence of the goddess: and while she was yawning carelessly at her ease, soareth again to the skies. As prophecy hath ever been one a wanton courtier took her at advantage, and in the very of the chief provinces of poesy, our poet here foretels from nick clapped a gag into her chops. Well, therefore, may we what we feel, what we are to fear; and, in the style of other know her meaning by her gaping; and this distressful pos-prophets, hath used the future tense for the preterit; since ture our poet here describes, just as she stands at this day, a sad example of the effects of Dulness and Malice, uncheck ed and despised. Bentl Ver. 615, 618. 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. Ver. 620. Wits have short memories,)] This seems to be the reason why the poets, when they give us a catalogue, constantly call for help on the muses, who, as the daughters of memory, are obliged not to forget any thing. So Homer, Iliad B. II. Πληθυν δ' ουκ αν εγω μυθήσομαι ουδ' ονομήνω, And Virgil, Æn. VII. Et meministis enim, divæ, et memorare potestis: But our poet had yet another reason for putting this task what he says shall be, is already to be seen in the writings of some even of our most adored authors, in divinity, phalosophy, physics, metaphysics, &c. who are too good, indeed, to be named in such company. Night and Chaos, here represented as advancing to extinIbid. The sable throne behold] The sable thrones of guish 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 work. the saying of Democritus, that Truth lay at the bottoin of & Ver. 641. Truth to her old cavern fled,] Alluding to deep well, from whence he had drawn her;' though Butler says, 'He first put her in, before he drew her out." Ver. 649. Religion, blushing, veils her sacred fires,] Blushing as well at the memory of the past overtlow of Duf ness, when the barbarous learning of so many ages was wholly employed in corrupting the simplicity, and defiling the purity of religion, as at the view of these her false supports in the present; of which it would be endless to recount the particulars. However, amidst the extinction of all other lights, she is said only to withdraw hers! as hers alone in Scribl. its own nature is unextinguishable and eternal. Ver. 624. The venal quiet, and, &c.] It were a problem Ver. 650. And unawares morality expires.] It appears worthy the solution of Mr. Ralph and his patron, who had from hence that our poet was of very different sentiments lights that we know nothing of, which required the greatest from the author of the Characteristics, who has written a effort of our goddess's power-to entrance the dull, or to formal treatise on virtue, to prove it not only real, but duraquiet the venal. For though the venal may be more unruly ble without the support of religon. The word Unawares than the dull, yet, on the other hand, it demands a much alludes to the confidence of those men, who suppose that greater expense of her virtue to entrance than barely to morality would flourish best without it, and consequently to quiet. Scribl. indeed, love virtue, and yet do all they can to root out the the surprise such would be in (if any such there are) who, religion of their country. Ver. 629. She comes! she comes! &c.] Here the muse, like Jove's eagle, after a sudden stoop at ignoble game, THE ILIAD OF HOMER, TRANSLATED BY ALEXANDER POPE, ESQ. PREFACE. Οι δ' αρ' ίσαν, ώσει τε πυρί χθων πασα νεμοιτο. HOMER is universally allowed to have had the are not coldly informed of what was said or done as greatest invention of any writer whatever. The from a third person; the reader is hurried out of praise of judgment Virgil has justly contested with himself by the force of the poet's imagination, and him, and others may have their pretensions as to par- turns in one place to a hearer, in another to a specticular excellences; but his invention remains yet tator. The course of his verses resembles that of the unrivalled. Nor is it a wonder if he has ever been army he describes, acknowledged the greatest of poets, who most excelled in that which is the very foundation of poetry. It is the invention that in different degrees distin- They pour along like a fire that sweeps the whole guishes all great geniuses: the utmost stretch of earth before it.' It is, however, remarkable that his human study, learning, and industry, which masters fancy which is every where vigorous, is not discoevery thing besides, can never attain to this. It fur-vered immediately at the beginning of his poem in its nishes Art with all her materials, and without it Judg-fullest splendour: it grows in the progress both upon ment itself can at best but steal wisely: for Art is himself and others, and becomes on fire, like a chaonly like a prudent steward, that lives on managing riot-wheel, by its own rapidity. Exact disposition, the riches of Nature. Whatever praises may be just thought, correct elocution, polished numbers, given to works of judgment, there is not even a single may have been found in a thousand; but this poetic beauty in them to which the invention must not con- fire, this 'vivida vis animi,' in a very few. Even in tribute: as in the most regular gardens, Art can only works where all those are imperfect or neglected, reduce the beauties of Nature to more regularity, and this can overpower criticism, and make us admire such a figure, which the common eye may bet- even while we disapprove. Nay, where this appears, ter take in, and is therefore more entertained with. though attended with absurdities, it brightens all the And perhaps the reason why common critics are in-rubbish about it, till we see nothing but its own splenclined to prefer a judicious and methodical genius to dour. This fire is discerned in Virgil, but discerned a great and fruitful one, is, because they find it easier as through a glass, reflected from Homer, more shifor themselves to pursue their observations through ning than fierce, but every where equal and constant: an uniform and bounded walk of Art, than to com- in Lucian and Statius it bursts out in sudden, short, prehend the vast and various extent of Nature. and interrupted flashes: in Milton it glows like a furnace kept up to an uncommon ardour by the force of art: in Shakspeare, it strikes before we are aware, like an accidental fire from heaven; but in Homer, and in him only, it burns every where clearly, and Our author's work is a wild Paradise, where, if we cannot see all the beauties so distinctly as in an ordered garden, it is only because the number of them is infinitely greater. It is like a copious nursery, which contains the seeds and first productions of every where irresistibly. every kind, out of which those who followed him I shall here endeavour to show how this vast inhave but selected some particular plants, each accor-vention exerts itself in a manner superior to that of cording to his fancy, to cultivate and beautify. If any poet, through all the main constituent parts of some things are too luxuriant, it is owing to the rich his work, as it is the great and peculiar characteristic ness of the soil; and if others are not arrived to per- which distinguishes him from all other authors. fection or maturity, it is only because they are over- This strong and ruling faculty was like a powerful run and oppressed by those of a stronger nature. star, which, in the violence of its course, drew all It is to the strength of this amazing invention we things within its vortex. It seemed not enough to are to attribute that unequalled fire and rapture which have taken in the whole circle of arts, and the whole is so forcible in Homer, that no man of a true poetical compass of nature, to supply his maxims and reflecspirit is master of himself while he reads him. What tions: all the inward passions and affections of manhe writes, is of the most animated nature imaginable; kind, to furnish his characters; and all the outward every thing moves, every thing lives, and is put in forms and images of things for his descriptions; but action. If a council be called, or a battle fought, you wanting yet an ampler sphere to expatiate in, he 8 D 209 |