Plate XXI. Vol. V. facing p.133. F.Hayman inv.et del. Crignin jonly. And now to this Side, now to that, they nod. Dunciad, Book II H BOOK H. IGH on a gorgeous feat, that far out-shone REMARK S. TWO things there are, upon the fuppofition of which the very basis of all verbal criticifm is founded and supported: The first, that an Author could never fail to ufe the beft word on every occafion; the fecond, that a Critic cannot chufe but know which that is. This being granted, whenever any word doth not fully content us, we take upon us to conclude, first, that the author could never have used it; and, fecondly, that he must have used that very one, which we conjecture, in its ftead. We cannot, therefore, enough admire the learned Scriblerus for his alteration of the text in the two laft verses of the preceding book, which in all the former editions ftood thus: "Hoarfe thunder to its bottom fhook the bog, "And the loud nations croak'd, God fave king Log." He has, with great judgment, tranfpofed these two epithets; putting boarfe to the nation, and loud to the thunder: And this being evidently the true reading, he vouchfafed not fo IMITATIONS. VER. 1. High on a gorgeous feat,] Parody of Milton, book ii. High on a throne of royal ftate, that far Or that where on her Curls the Public pours, All-bounteous, fragrant Grains and Golden fhow'rs, Great Cibber fate: The proud Parnaffian fneer, 5 The conscious fimper, and the jealous leer, REMARK S. much as to mention the former; for which affertion of the juft right of a Critic, he merits the acknowledgment of all found Commentators. VER. 2. Henley's gilt tub,] The pulpit of a Diffenter is ufually called a Tub; but that of Mr. Orator Henley was covered with velvet, and adorned with gold. He had also a fair altar, and over it is this extraordinary infcription, The Primitive Eucharift. See the hiftory of this perfon, book iii. Ibid. or Fleckno's Irish throne,] Richard Fleckno was an Irish prieft, but had laid afide (as himself expreffed it) the mechanic part of priesthood. He printed fome plays, poems, letters, and travels. I doubt not, our author took occafion to mention him in refpect to the Poem of Mr. Dryden, to which this bears fome refemblance, though of a character more different from it than that of the Æneid from the Iliad, or the Lutrin of Boileau from the Defait de Bouts rimées of Sarazin. It may be juft worth mentioning, that the Eminence from whence the ancient Sophifts entertained their auditors, was called by the pompous name of a Throne ;—ἐπι θρόνο τινὸς ifnað μáda copısıxws a colapis. Themiftius, Orat. i. VER. 3. Or that where on her Curls the Publick pours,] Edmund Curl ftood in the pillory at Charing-Crofs, in March 1727-8. This (faith Edmund Curl) is a falfe AffertionI had indeed the corporal punishment of what the Gentlemen of the long Robe are pleafed jocofely to call mounting "the Roftrum for one hour: but that fcene of Action was "not in the month of March, but in February." [Curliad 12, p. 19] And of the Hiftory of his being toft in a Blanket, he faith, "Here, Scriblerus! thou leefeth in what thou affert Mix on his look: All eyes direct their rays New edge their dulnefs, and new bronze their face. Not with more glee, by hands Pontific crown'd, With scarlet hats wide-waving circled round, Rome in her Capitol faw Querno fit, Thron'd on feven hills, the Antichrift of wit. REMARK S. 15 "eft concerning the blanket: it was not a blanket, but a "rug." p. 25: Much in the fame manner Mr. Cibber re-. monftrated, that his Brothers, at Bedlam, mentioned Book i. were not Brazen, but Blocks; yet our author let it pass unaltered, as a trifle that no way altered the relationship. We should think (gentle Reader) that we but ill performed our part, if we corrected not as well our own errors now, as formerly thofe of the Printer. Since what moved us to this Work, was folely the Love of Truth, not in the least any Vain-glory, or Defire to contend with Great Authors. And further, our Mistakes. we conceive, will the rather be pardoned, as fcarce poffible to be avoided in writing of fuch Perfons and Works as do ever fhun the Light. However, that we may not any way foften or extenuate the fame, we give them thee in the very Words of our Antagonists: not defending, but retracting them from our heart, and craving excufe of the Parties offended: For furely in this Work, it hath been above all things our defire, to provoke no Man. SCRIBL. VER. 15. Rome in her Capitol faw Querno fit,] Camillo Querno was of Apulia, who hearing the great Encouragement which Leo X. gave to Poets, travelled to Rome with a harp in his hand, and fung to it twenty thoufand verses of And now the Queen, to glad her fons, proclaims By herald Hawkers, high heroic Games. They fummon all her Race: An endless band Pours forth, and leaves unpeopled half the land. 20 A motley mixture! in long wigs, in bags, In filks, in crapes, in Garters, and in rags, From drawing-rooms, from colleges, from On horse, on foot, in hacks, and gilded chariots : All who true Dunces in her caufe appear'd, And all who knew those Dunces to reward. garrets, 25 Amid that area wide they took their stand, Where the tall May-pole once o'er-look'd the Strand, But now (fo ANNE and Piety ordain) A Church collects the faints of Drury-lane. 30 With Authors, Stationers obey'd the call, (The field of glory is a field for all.) REMARK S. a poem called Alexias. He was introduced as a Buffoon to Leo, and promoted to the honour of the Laurel; a jest which the court of Rome and the Pope himself entered into so far, as to caufe him to ride on an elephant to the Capitol, and to hold a folemn feftival on his coronation; at which it is recorded the 'oet himfelf was fo tranfported as to weep for joy a. He was ever after a conftant frequenter of the Pope's table, drank abundantly, and poured forth verfes without number. PAULUS JOVIUS, Elog. Vir. doct. cap. lxxxii. Some idea of his poetry is given by Fam. Strada, in his Prolufions. a See Life of C. C. chap. vi. p. 149. |