405 As what a Dutchman plumps into the lakes, So from the mid-most the nutation spreads REMARK S. VER. 405. As what a Dutchman, &c.] It is a common and foolish mistake, that a ludicrous parody of a grave and celebrated paffage is a ridicule of that paffage. The reader therefore, if he will, may call this a parody of the author's own fublime Similitude in the Effay on Man, Ep. iv. As the fmall pebble, &c. but will any body therefore fufpect the one to be a ridicule of the other? A ridicule indeed there is in every parody; but when the image is transferred from one fubject to another, and the fubject is not a poem burlesqued (which Scriblerus hopes the reader will diftinguish from a burlesque poem) there the ridicule falls not on the thing imitated, but imitating. Thus, for instance, when Old Edward's armour beams on Cibber's breast, it is, without doubt, an object ridiculous enough. But I think it falls neither on old king Edward, nor his armour, but on his armour-bearer only. Let this be faid to explain our Author's parodies (a figure that has always a good effect in a mock epic poem) either from profane or facred writers. VER. 411. Centlivre] Mrs Sufanna Centlivre, wife to Mr Centlivre, Yeoman of the Mouth to his Majefty. She writ many Plays, and a Song (fays Mr Jacob, vol. i p. 32) before fhe was feven years old. She also writ a Ballad against Mr Pope's Homer, before he began it. IMITATION S. Blackm. Job. 72 THE DUNCIA D Boyer the State, and Law the Stage gave o'er, Morgan and Mandevil could prate no more; Norton from Daniel and Oftra fprung, Blefs'd with his father's front, and mother's tongue, T-s and T- the Church and State gave o'er, VER. 413. Boyer the State, and Law the Stage gave o'er-]- All thofe who had written against the "difference between a true Play and one made by a Poetafter, as "between two religious books, the Bible and the Alcoran." Then "Stage were Jacobites and Non-jurors; and did it always at a "time when fomething was to be done for the Pretender. "Collier publifhed his Short View when France declared for were making abroad, and which the Ja "the Chevalier; and his Diffuafive, juft at the great form, "when the devaftation which that hurricane wrought, had a "mazed and aftonifhed the minds of men, and made them ob "noxious to melancholy and defponding thoughts. "took the opportunity to attack the Stage upon the great pre"cobites flattered themfelves were defigned in their favour. And as for Mr Bedford's Serious Remonftrance, tho' I know nothing of the time of publifhing it, yet I dare to lay odds it "was either upon the Duke d'Amont's being at Sommerfetin which he has detailed a Syftem of the rankeft houfe, or upon the late rebellion." DENNIS, Stage defended against Mr Law, p. ult. The fame Mr Law is Author of book, intitled, An Appeal to all that doubt of or disbelieve the truth of the Golps the moft exalted Theology; and amongst other things as rare, has informed us of this, that Sir Ifaac Newton fole the principles of his philofophy from one Jacob Behman, a Why Di Hung filent down his never blufhing head; And to mere mortals feem'd a Prieft in drink : REMARK S. 420 425 VER. 414 Morgan] A writer against Religion, diftinguished no otherwife from the rabble of his tribe, than by the pompoufnefs of his Title; for having ftolen his Morality from Tindal, and his Philofophy from Spinofa, he calls himself, by the courtesy of England, a Moral Philofopher. Ibid. Mandevil This writer, who prided himself as much in the Reputation of an Immoral Philofopher, was author of a famous book called the Fable of the Bees; written to prove, that Moral Virtue is the Invention of knaves, and Chriftian Virtue the Impofition of fools; and that Vice is neceffary, and alone fufficient to render Society flourishing and happy, VER 415. Norton] Norton De Foe, offspring of the famous Daniel, Fortes creantur fortibus. One of the authors of the Flying Poft, in which well-bred work Mr P. had sometime the honour to be abused with his betters; and of many hired fourrilities and daily papers, to which he never fet his name. VER. 426. And to mere mortals feem'd a Prieft in drink :] This line prefents us with an excellent moral, that we are never to pass judgmeut merely by appearances; a leffon to all men, who may happen to see a reverend Perfon in the like fituation, IMITATIONS. VER. 418. And all was huf'd, as Folly's felf lay dead.] AL ludes to Dryden's verfe in the Indian Emperor: All things are hush'd, as Nature's felf lay dead. While others, timely, to the neighb'ring Fleet (Haunt of the Muses) made their safe retreat. REMARK S. not to determine too rafhly; fince not only the Poets frequently defcribe a Bard inspired in this posture, [On Cam's fair bank, where Chaucer lay inspired, and the like] but an eminent Cafuift tells us, that if a Priest "be feen in any indecent action, we ought to account it a de ception of fight, or an illusion of the Devil, who sometimes "takes upon him the shape of holy men on purpose to caufe "fcandal." VER. 427. Fleet] A prifon for infolvent Debtors on the bank of the Ditch. The END of the SECOND BOOK. THE DUNCIA D: BOOK the THIRD. a ARGUMENT. After the other perfons are difpofed in their proper place's 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 caufes 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 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 those which he himself is deftin'd to perform. He takes him to a Mount of Vifion, from whence he fhews him the paft triumphs of the Empire of Dulness, then the prefent, and lastly the future: how small a part of |