the fcene 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 these. He prophecies how first the nation fhall be over-run with Farces, Operas, and Shows; and the throne of Dulness advanced over both the Theatres; then how her fons fhall prefide in the feats of Arts and Sciences, till in conclufion all fhall return to their original Chaos: A fcene, of which the prefent Action of the Dunciad is but a Type or Foretafle, giving a Glympfe, or Pifgah-fight of the promised Fulness of her Glory; the accomplishment whereof will, in all probability, hereafter be the Theme of many other and greater Dunciads. BOOK III. BUT in her Temple's last recess inclos'd, 5 On Dulness' lap th' Anointed head repos'd. Him close fhe curtain'd round with vapours blue, And foft befprinkled with Cimmerian dew. Then raptures high the feat of sense 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 paradife, the Statesman's scheme, The air-built Caftle, and the golden Dream, The Maid's romantic wish, the Chymift's flame, And Poet's vision of eternal fame. And now, on Fancy's eafy wing convey'd, The King defcended to th' Elyzian Shade. There, in a dufky vale where Lethe rolls, Old Bavius fits, to dip poetic Souls, And blunt the fenfe, and fit it for a fcull Of folid proof, impenetrably dull : ΙΟ 15 Instant when dipt, away they wing their flight, Rush to the world, impatient for the day. 21 As As thick as bees o'er vernal bloffoms fly, 25 30 Wond'ring he gaz'd: When lo! a Sage appears, By his broad shoulders known, and length of ears, Known by the band and suit which Settle wore, (His only fuit) for twice three years before: All as the veft, appear'd the wearer's frame, Old in new state, another yet the fame. Bland and familiar as in life, begun Thus the great Father to the greater Son. Oh born to see what none can fee awake! Behold the wonders of th' oblivious Lake. 35 Thou, yet unborn, haft touch'd this facred fhore; 40 45 Mix'd the Owl's ivy with the Poet's bays? Roll all their tydes, then back their circles bring; Shall in thee center, from thee circulate. 50 Old Old fcenes of glory, times long cast behind Shall first recall'd, rufh forward to thy mind; Afcend this hill, whofe cloudy point commands Her boundless empire over feas and lands. See round the Poles where keener fpangles fhine, Where fpices fmoke beneath the burning Line, Earth's wide extreams) her fable flag display'd; And all the nations cover'd in her fhade! 55 60 66 Far eastward caft thine eye, from whence the Sun And orient Science at a birth begun. One god-like Monarch all that pride confounds, He, whose long wall the wand'ring Tartar bounds. Heav'ns! what a pile? whole ages perish there : And one bright blaze turns Learning into air. Thence to the fouth extend thy gladden'd eyes; There rival flames with equal glory rife, From thelves to fhelves fee greedy Vulcan roll, Antick up all their Phyfick of the foul. Tow little, mark! that portion of the ball, ke, faint at best, the beams of Science fall ; 70 75 80 See, See, the bold Oftrogoths on Latium fall; 85 90 Lo Rome herself, proud mistress now no more Padua with fighs beholds her Livy burn, See, the Cirque falls, th' unpillar'd Temple nods, Or Phidias broken, and Apelles burn'd. ΙΟΙ Behold yon' Ifle, by Palmers, Pilgrims trod, 105. Men bearded, bald, cowl'd, uncowl'd, fhod, unshod, Peel'd, patch'd, and pyebald, linfey-woolfey brothers, Grave mummers! sleeveless some, and shirtless others. That once was Britain-Happy! had she seen No fiercer fons, had Eafter never been! In peace, great Goddess, ever be ador'd; How keen the war, if Dulness draw the sword? Thus vifit not thy own! on this bleft age Oh spread thy Influence, but reftrain thy Rage. 110 And |