THE DUNCIA D: то Dr JONATHAN SWIFT. BOOK the FIRST. ARGUMEN T. THE Propofition, the Invocation, and the Infcription. Then the Original of the great Empire of Dulness, and caufe of the continuance thereof The College of the Goddess in the City, with her private Academy for Poets in particular; the Governors of it, and the four Cardinal Virtues. Then the Poem haftes into the midft of things, prefenting her, on the evening of a Lord Mayor's day, revolving the long fucceffion of her Sons, and the glories paft and to come. She fixes her eye on Bays to be the Inftrument of that great Event which is the Subject of the Poem. He is defcribed penfive among his Books, giving up the Caufe, and apprehending the Period of her Empire: After debating whether to betake himself to the Church, or to Gaming, or to Party-writing, he raifes an Altar of proper books, and (making firft his folemn prayer and declaration) purposes thereon to facrifice all his unfuccefful writings. As the pile is kindled, the Goddefs, beholding the flame from her seat, flies and puts it out, by cafting upon it the poem of Thulé. She forthwith reveals herself to him, transports him to her Temple, unfolds her Arts, and initiates him into her Myfteries; then announcing the death of Eufden the Poet Laureate, anoints him, carries him to Court, and proclaims him Successor. Av. Frankendaal fculps. Her ample Presence fills up all the Space. A Veil of Fogs dilates her an full Face. Dunciad Book I. BOOK I. HE Mighty Mother, and her Son, who brings TH VER 1. The mighty mother, &c. in the first Edit. it was thus, IMITATIONS Say, great Patricians! fince yourselves infpire Thele wondrous works. -Di cœptis (nam vos mutaftis et illas.) Ovid. Met. 1. REMARK S. The DUNCIAD, fie MS. It may be well difputed whether this be a right reading: Ought it not rather to be spelled Duncelad, as the Etymology evidently demands? Dunce with an e, therefore Dunceiad with an e. That accurate and punctual Man of Letters, the Reftorer of Shakespeare, conftantly obferves the prefervation of this very Letter e, in fpelling the Name of his beloved Author, and not like his common careless Editors, with the omiffion of one, nay fometimes of two ee's (as Shakspear, which is utterly unpardonable. "Nor is the ne $6 glect of a Single Letter fo trivial as to fome it may appear; the "alteration whereof in a learned language is an Atchievement that brings honour to the Critic who advances it; and Dr Bentley will be remembered to pofterity for his performan"ces of this fort, as long as the world shall have any efteem "for the remains of Menander and Philemon. THEOBALD. This is furely a flip in the learned author of the foregoing note; there having been fince produced by an accurate Antiquary, an Autograph of Shakspeare himself, whereby it appears. that he fpelled his own name without the fift e. And upon this authority it was, that thofe moft Critical Curators of his |