Some, deep Free-Masons, join the filent race Some Botanists, or Florists at the leaft, All my commands are easy, fhort, and full: REMARK S. 575 580 offices of civil life; and a heart too lumpifh, narrow, and contracted for those of focial, become fit for nothing: And fo turn Wits and Critics, where fense and civility are neither required nor expected. VER. R. 571. Some, deep Free-Masons, join the filent race] The Poet all along expreffes a very particular concern for this filent Race: He has here provided, that in cafe they will not waken or open (as was before propofed) to a Humming-Bird or a Cockle, yet at worft they may be made Free-Mafons; where Taciturnity is the only effential Qualification, as it was the chief of the disciples, of Pythagoras. VIR. 576. A Gregorian, one a Gormogon.] A fort of Laybrothers, Slips from the Root of the Free-Mafons. VER. 581. All my commands are easy, short, and full: My Sons! be proud, be felfish, and be dull.] We fhould be unjust to the reign of Dulness not to confefs that her's has one advantage in it rarely to be met with in Modern Governments, which is, that the public Education of her Youth fits and prepares them for the obfervance of her Laws, and Guard my Prerogative, affert my Throne : 585 With Staff and Pumps the Marquis leads the Race; REMARK S. the exertion of those Virtues fhe recommends. For what makes men prouder than the empty knowledge of Words; what more felfifb than the Free thinker's Syftem of Morals; or duller than the profeffion of true Virtuofofhip? Nor are her Inftitutions less admirable in themfelves, than in 'the fitness of these their several relations, to promote the harmony of the whole. For fhe tells her Sons, and with great truth, that all her commands are "eafy, fort, and full." For is any thing in nature more easy than the exertion of Pride; more short and fimple than the principle of Selfishness; or more full and ample than the sphere of Dulness? Thus, Birth, Education, and wife Policy, all concurring to fupport the throne of our Goddess, great must be the ftrength thereof. SCRIBL. VER. 584. each Privilege your own, &c.] This fpeech of Dulnefs to her Sons at parting may poffibly fall fhort of the Reader's expectation; who may imagine the Goddess might give them a Charge of more confequence, and, from fuch a Theory as is before delivered, incite them to the practice of fomething more extraordinary, than to perfonate Running Footmen, Jockeys, Stage Coachmen, &c. But if it be well confidered, that whatever inclination they might have to do mischief, her fons are generally rendered harm. lefs by their Inability; and that it is the common effect of Dulnefs (even in her greatest efforts) to defeat her own defign; the Poet, I am perfuaded, will be juftified, and it will be allowed that thefe worthy perfons, in their several ranks, do as much as can be expected from them. VER. 585. The Cap and Switch &c.] The Goddefs's political balance of favour, in the diftribution of her rewards, deferves our notice. It confifts in joining with thofe Honours claimed by birth and high place, others more adapted to the genius and From Stage to Stage the licens'd Earl may run, 590 Or draw to filk Arachne's fubtile line; REMARK S, 595 talents of the Candidates. And thus her great Fore-runner, John of Leiden, King of Munfter, entered on his Government, by making his ancient friend and companion, Knipperdolling, General of his Horfe and Hangman. And had but Fortune feconded his great fchemes of Reformation, it is faid, he would have established his whole Houfhold on the fame reasonable footing. SCRIBL. VER. 590. Arachne's fubtile line ;] This is one of the most ingenious employments affigned, and therefore recommended only to Peers of Learning. Of weaving Stockings of the Webs of Spiders, fee the Phil. Trans. VER. 591. The Judge to dance his brother Sergeant call;] Alluding perhaps to that ancient and folemn Dance, intitled A Call of Sergeants. VER. 598. Teach Kings to fiddle] An ancient amusement of Sovereign Princes, (viz.) Achilles, Alexander, Nero; though defpifed by Themistocles, who was a Republican.-Make Senates dance, either after their Prince, or to Pontoife, or Siberia. 600 Perhaps more high fome daring fon may foar, Proud to my REMARK S. 2 606 VER. 606. What Mortal can refift the Yawn of Gods?] This verfe is truly Homerical; as is the conclufion of the Action, where the great Mother compofes all, in the fame manner as Minerva at the period of the Odyffey.—It may indeed seem a very fingular Epitafis of a Poem, to end as this does, with a Great Yawn; but we must confider it as the Yawn of a God, and of powerful effects. It is not out of Nature, moft long and grave counfels concluding in this very manner: Nor without Authority, the incomparable Spencer having ended one of the moft confiderable of his works with a Roar; but then it is the Roar of a Lion, the effects whereof are described as the Cataftrophe of the Poem. VER. 607 Churches and Chapels, &c.] The Progress of this Yawn is judicious, natural, and worthy to be noted. First it feizeth the Churches and Chapels; then catcheth the Schools, where, tho' the boys be unwilling to fleep, the Masters are not: Next Westminster-hall, much more hard indeed to subdue, and not totally put to filence even by the Goddess: Then the Convocation, which tho' extremely defirous to fpeak, yet cannot: Even the House of Commons, juftly called the Sense of the Nation, is left (that is to fay fufpended) during the Yawn (far be it from our Author to fuggeft it could be loft any longer!) but it spreadeth at large over all the reft of the Kingdom, to Then catch'd the Schools; the Hall fcarce kept awake; The Convocation gap'd, but could not speak: 610 The Vapour mild o'er each Committee crept; 615 And Chieflefs Armies doz'd out the Campaign; REMARKS. fuch a degree, that Palinurus himself (though as incapable of fleeping as Jupiter) yet noddeth for a moment: the effect of which, though ever so momentary, could not but caufe fome Relaxation, for the time, in all public affairs. SCRIEL. VER. 610. The Convocation gap'd, but could not speak:] Implying a great defire fo to do, as the learned Scholiaft on the place rightly obferves. Therefore, beware Reader, left thou take this Gape for a Yawn, which is attended with no defire but to go to reft: by no means the difpofition of the Convocation; whofe melancholy cafe in fhort is this: She was, as is reported, infected with the general influence of the Goddefs; and while fhe was yawning carelessly at her ease, a wanton Courtier took her at advantage, and in the very nick clap'd a Gag into her chops. Well therefore may we know her meaning by her gaping; and this distressful pofture our poet here describes, just as she stands at this day, a fad example of the effects of Dulness and Malice unchecked and defpifed. BENT. VER. 615, 618.] Thefe Verfes 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. |