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 pass 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 these. 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 seats of Arts and Sciences: giving a glimpse, or Pifgah fight, of the future Fulness of her Glory, the accomplishment whereof is the fubject of the fourth and last Book. BOOK B UT in her Temple's last recefs inclos'd, And now, on Fancy's eafy wing convey'd, REMARKS. 5 ΤΟ 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 satire on the present Age, doubtless more learned, more enlightened, and more abounding with great Geniuses 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 Vifion, repeated this monition, faying that it all paffed through the Ivory gate, which (according to the Ancients) denoteth Fallity. SCRIBL. How much the good Scriblerus was mistaken, may be feen from the fourth Book, which, it is plain from hence, he had never seen. BENTL. A flip-fhod Sibyl led his fteps along, In lofty madness meditating fong; 15 And never wash'd, but in Castalia's streams, (Once fwan of Thames, though now he fings no more.) VARIATION. Ver. 15-22. Not in the first 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) Enthusiasts 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 Dulness; 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 honest man, who owns he learned not so much as the Accidence: A rare example of modesty in a Poet! "I muft Benlowes, propitious ftill to Blockheads, bows; 21 Old Bavius fits, to dip poetic fouls, And blunt the fenfe, and fit it for a skull 25 Of folid proof, impenetrably dull : Inftant, when dipt, away they wing their flight, REMARKS. Demand "I must confefs I do want eloquence, "I there was gravel'd, could no farther get.' He wrote fourscore books in the reign of James I. and Charles I. and afterwards (like Edward Ward) kept an Alehouse in Long-Acre. He died in 1654. Ver. 21. Benlowes,] A country gentleman, famous for his own bad Poetry, and for patronizing bad Poets, as may be feen from many Dedications of Quarles and others to him. Some of thefe anagramed his name Benlowes into Benevolus: to verify which, he spent his whole estate upon them. Ver. 22. And Shadwell nods the Poppy, &c.] Shadwell took Opium for many years; and died of too large a dose, in the year 1692. Ver. 24. Old Bavius fits,] Bavius was an ancient Poet, celebrated by Virgil for the like caufes as Bays by our author, though not in fo chriftian-like a manner : For heathenifhly it is declared by Virgil of Bavius, that IMITATION. Ver. 28. unbar the gates of Light,] An Hemiftich of Milton. he Demand new bodies, and in Calf's array, REMARKS. 30 Won he ought to be hated and detefted for his evil works; Qui Bavium non odit; whereas we have often had occafion to obferve our Poet's great Good-nature and Mercifulness through the whole course of this Poem. SCRIBL. Ver. 28. Brown and Meers] Bookfellers, Printers for any body. The allegory of the fouls of the dull coming forth in the form of books, dreffed in calf's leather, and being let abroad in vaft numbers by Bookfellers, is fufficiently intelligible. Ver. 34. Ward in Pillory.] John Ward of Hackney, Efq. Member of Parliament, being convicted of forgery, was first expelled the Houfe, and then fentenced to the Pillory on the 17th of February 1727. Mr. Curll (having likewife ftood there) looks upon the mention of fuch a Gentleman in a fatire, as a great act of barbarity, Key to the Dunc. 3d Edit. p. 16. And another author reafons thus upon it. Durgen. 8vo, p. 11, 12. "How unworthy is it of Chriftian Charity to "animate the rabble to abuse a worthy man in such a "fituation? What could move the Poet thus to men"tion a brave fufferer, a gallant prifoner, expofed to "the view of all mankind! It was laying afide his "Senfes, it was committing a Crime for which the "Law is deficient not to punish him! nay, a Crime " which Man can scarce forgive, or Time efface! no"thing furely could have induced him to it but being "bribed |