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Who prouder march'd with magiftrates in state,
To fome fam'd round-house, ever-open gate!
How Henley lay infpir'd beside a fink,

And to mere mortals feem'd a Prieft in drink :
While others, timely, to the neighbouring Fleet
(Haunt of the Mufes) made their safe retreat.

VARIATION,

Ver. 425. In firft Ed. How Laurus lay, &c.

REMARKS...

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Ver. 427. Fleet] A prifon for infolvent Debtors on the bank of the Ditch.

THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK.

THE

DUN CIA D.

BOOK THE THIRD.

ARGUMENT.

AFTER the other perfons are difpofed in their proper places of reft, the Goddess transports the King to her Temple, and there lays him to flumber with his head on her lap; a pofition of marvellous virtue, which caufeth all the Vifions of wild enthufiafts, projectors, politicians, inamoratos, caftle-builders, chemifts, and poets. He is immediately carried on the wings of Fancy, and led by a mad Poetical Sibyl, to the Elyfian fhade; where, on the banks of Lethe, the fouls of the dull are dipped by Bavius, before their entrance into this world. There he is met by the ghoft of Settle, and by him made acquainted with the wonders of the place, and with thofe which he himfelf is deftined to perform. He takes him to a Mount of Vifion, from whence he fhews him the paft triumphs of the Empire of Dulnefs, then the prefent, and laftly the future: how finall a part of the world was ever conquered by Science, how foon thofe conquefts were ftopped, and thofe very nations again

reduced

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 her Empire. Some of the perfons he caufes to pafs 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 prophefies how first the nation fhall be over-run with Farces, Operas, and Shows; how the Throne of Dulness shall be advanced over the Theatres, and fet up even at Court: then how her Sons fhall prefide in the feats of Arts and Sciences: giving a glimpse, or Pifgah fight, of the future Fulnefs of her Glory, the accomplishment whereof is the fubject of the fourth and laft Book.

BOOK

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BUT in her Temple's laft recefs inclos'd,

On Dulnefs' lap th' Anointed head repos'd.
Him close fhe curtains round with Vapours blue,
And foft befprinkles with Cimmerian dew,
Then raptures high the feat of Senfe o'erflow,
Which only heads refin'd from Reafon know.
Hence, from the straw where Bedlam`s Prophet nods,
He hears loud Oracles, and talks with Gods:

• Hence the Fool's Paradise, the Statefman's Scheme,
The air-built Caftle, and the golden Dream,
The maid's romantic wifh, the Chemist's flame,
And Poet's vifion of eternal Fame.

And now, on Fancy's eafy wing convey'd,

The King defcending, views th' Elyfian Shade.

REMARKS.

10

A flip

Ver. 5, 6, &c.] Hereby is intimated that the following Vision is no more than the chimera of the dreamer's brain, and not a real or intended fatire on the present Age, doubtlefs more learned, more enlightened, and more abounding with great Geniufes in Divinity, Politics, and whatever arts and fciences, than all the preceding. For fear of any fuch mistake of our Poet's honeft meaning, he hath again, at the end of the Vision, repeated this monition, faying that it all paffed through the Ivory gate, which (according to the Ancients) denoteth Falfity.

SCRIBL.

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

BENTL

A flip-fhod Sibyl led his steps along,

In lofty madness meditating fong;

Her treffes ftaring from Poetic dreams,

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And never wash'd, but in Caftalia's ftreams,
Taylor, their better Charon, lends an oar,

(Once fwan of Thames, though now he fings no more.)

VARIATION.

Ver. 15-22. Not in the firft Ed.

REMARKS.

Ben

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 Dulnefs. Hence we find the religious (as well as the poetical) Enthufiafts of all ages were ever, in their natural state, moft heavy and lumpifh; but on the leaft application of heat, they ran 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 it does well-tempered steel) 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 do of Holiness. But if the cause 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 quickness enough to comprehend what it feeks, nor force and vigour enough to divert the imagination from the object it laments.

Ver. 19. Taylor] John Taylor the Water-poet, an honeft man, who owns he learned not so much as the Accidence: A rare example of modesty in a Poet!

"I muft

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