Norton, from Daniel and Oftroa sprung, Bleft with his father's front, and mother's tongue, And all was hufh'd, as Folly's felf lay dead. REMARK S. 385 fomething was to be done for the Pretender. Mr. "Collier publifh'd his Short View, when France de clar'd for the Chevalier; and his Diffuafive, juft at "the great Storm, when the devaftation which that "Hurricane wrought had amazed and aftonished the "minds of men, and made them obnoxious to me"lancholy and defponding thoughts: Mr. Law took the opportunity to attack the Stage upon the great preparations he heard were making abroad, and which the Jacobites flatter'd themselves were defign'd in their favour: And as for Mr. Bedford's "Serious Remonstrance, tho' I know nothing of the "time of publishing it, yet I dare to lay odds it was either upon the Duke D'Aumont's being at Somerfet-boufe, or upon the late Rebellion." DENNIS, Stage defended against Mr. Law, pag. ult. 66 . V. 383. Norton.] Norton de Foe, faid to be the natural offspring of the famous Daniel. Fortes creantur fortibus. One of the authors of the Flying-Poft, in which well-bred work Mr. P. had fometime the honour to be abus'd with his betters, and of many hired fcurrilities and daily papers to which he never fet his name, in a due fear of Laws and Cudgels. He is now writing the Life of Colonel Charteris. ΙΜΙΤΑΤΙΟΝ β. V. 386. And all was bufb'd, as Folly's felf lay dead.] 1 J Why should I fing what bards the nightly Muse 390 And to mere mortals feem'd a Priest in drink : While others, timely, to the neighbouring Fleet 395 (Haunt of the Muses) made their fafe retreat. REM V. 394, And to mere mortals, feem'd a Prieft in drink.] This line prefents us with an excellent moral, that we are never to pafs judgment merely by appearances; a leffon to all men who may happen to fee a reve rend perfon in the like fituation, not to determine too rafhly fince not only the Poets frequently describe a Bard infpir'd in this posture, (On Cam's fair bank where Chaucer lay infpir'd, and the like) but an eminent Cafuift tells us, that if a Priest be seen in any indecent action, we ought to account it a deception of fight, or illufion of the Devil, who fometimes takes upon him the fhape of holy men on purpose to caufe fcandal. How little the prophane author of the Characters of the Times printed 1728. regarded this admonition, appears from these words pag. 26. (fpeaking of the reverend Mr. Laurence Euf den) "A moft worthy fucceffor of Tate in the Laureat"fhip, a man of infuperable modefty, fince certainly "it was not his Ambition that led him to feek this illuftrious poft, but his Affection to the Perquifite of "Sack." 4. A reflection as mean as it is fcandalous ! SCRIBLERUS. V. 395. Fleet.] A Prifon for infolvent Debtors on the bank of the Ditch, End of the SECOND BOOK, THE DUNCIA D. Вook the THIRD. B UT in her Temple's laft recefs inclos'd, On Dulnefs lap th'Anointed head repos'd. Him clofe fhe curtain'd round with vapours blue, And.foft befprinkled with Cimmerian dew. Then raptures high the feat of fenfe o'erflow, Which only heads, refin'd from reason, know. Hence, from the straw where Bedlam's Prophet nods, He hears loud Oracles, and talks with Gods: REMARKS on Book the THIRD. 5 V. 5, 6, &c.] Hereby is intimated that the fol lowing Vifion is no more than the chimera of the IMITATIONS. V. 8. Hence from the raw where Bedlam's Prophet nods, He bears loud Oracles, and talks with Gods. Virg. Æn. 7. Et varias audit voces, fruiturque deorum Hence the Fool's paradife, the Statesman's scheme, And now, on Fancy's eafy wing convey'd, REMARK S. dreamer's brain, and not a real or intended fatire on the Prefent Age, doubtless more learned, more inlighten'd, and more abounding with great Genius's in Divinity, Politics, and whatever Arts and Sciences, than all the preceding. For fear of any fuch mistake of our Poet's honeft meaning, he hath again at the end of the Vifion repeated this monition, faying that it all paft thro' the Ivory gate, which (according to the Ancients) denoteth Falfity. SCRIBLERUS. V. 16. Old Bavius fits.] Bavius was an ancient Poet, celebrated by Virgil for the like caufe as Tibbald by our author, tho' not in so christian-like manner : For IMITATIONS. V. 15. There in a dusky vale, &c.] Virg. n. 6. Videt Eneas in valle reducta Seclufum nemus Lethæumque domos placidas qui prænatat amnem, &c. Hunc circum innumera gentes, &c. V. 16. Old Bavius fits, to dip poetic fouls.] Alluding to the ftory of Thetis dipping Achilles to render him impenetrable. At pater Anchifes penitus convalle virenti Virg. Æn. 6. And blunt the fense, and fit it for a fcull Of folid proof, impenetrably dull... A T Inftant when dipt, away they wing their flight, Where Brown and Mears unbar the gates of Light, - 20 REMARKS. heathenifhly it is declared by Virgil of Bavius, that he bught to be bated and detested for his evil works; Qui Bavium non odit -whereas we have often had occafion to observe our Poet's great good nature and mercifulnefs, thro' the whole courfe of this poem. Mr. Dennis warmly contends that Bavius was no inconfiderable author; nay, that he and Mavius had (even in Auguftus's days) a very formidable "Party at Rome, who thought them much fuperior "to Virgil and Hore: For (faith he) "I cannot "believe they would have fix'd that eternal brand ct upon them, if they had not been coxcombs in more than ordinary credit." Rem: on Pr. Arthur, part 2, C. I. (An argument which if this Poem fhould laft, will conduce to the honour of the Gentlemen of the Dunciad.). In like manner he tells us of Settle, that he was once a formidable Rival to Mr. Dryden, and that in the Univerfity of Cambridge there were "those who gave him the preference." Mr. Welfted goes yet farther in his behalf. "Poor Settle was for merly the Mighty Rival of Dryden: nay, for many "years, bore his Reputation above him." [Pref. to his Poems, 8. p. 51.] And Mr. Milbourn cry'd out, "How little was Dryden able, even when his blood 66 run high, to defend himself against Mr. Settle! Notes on Dryd. Virg. p. 175. These are comfortable opinions! and no wonder fome authors indulge them. SCRIBLERUS. V. 20. Brown and Mears.] Bookfellers, Printers for Tibbald, Mrs. Haywood, or any body.The IMITATIONS. V. 20. Unbar the gates of Light.] Milton. |