great event which is the fubject of the poem. He is defcribed penfive in his study, giving up the caufe, and apprehending the period of her empire from the old age of the prefent monarch Settle. Wherefore debating whether to betake himself to law or politicks, he raifes an altar of proper books, and (making firft his folemn prayer and declaration) purposes thereon to facrifice all his unsuccessful writings. As the pyle is kindled, the Goddefs beholding the flame from her feat, flies in perfon and puts it out, by cafting upon it the poem of Thule. She forthwith reveals her felf to him, tranfports him to her Temple, unfolds all her arts, and initiates him into her mysteries; then announcing the death of Settle that night, anoints, and proclaims him Succeffor.

BOOK the SECOND.

THE King being proclaimed, the folemnity is graced with publick Games and fports of various kinds; (not inftituted by the Hero, as by Aneas in Virgil, but for greater honour by the Goddefs in perfon; in like manner as the games Pythia, Ifthmia, &c. were anciently faid to be by the Gods, and as Thetis herself appearing according to Homer Odyff. 24. propofed the prizes in honour of her fon Achilles. Hither flock the Poets and Criticks, attended (as is but just) with

their Patrons and Bookfellers. The Goddess is first pleased for her difport to propose games to the latter, and fetteth up the phantom of a poet which the Bookfellers contend to overtake. The races defcribed, with their divers accidents: Next, the game for a Poetefs: Afterwards the exercifes for the Poets, of Tickling, Vociferating, Diving: the first holds forth the arts and practices of Dedicators, the fecond of Difputants and fuftian poets, the third of protund, dark, and dirty authors. Laftly, for the Criticks, the Goddess proposes (with great propriety) an exercise not of their parts but their patience; in hearing the works of two voluminous authors, one in verfe and the other in profe, deliberately read, without fleeping: The: various effects of which, with the feveral degrees and manners of their operation, are here most lively fet forth: Till the whole number, not of criticks only, but of fpecta-tors, actors, and all prefent fall fast asleep, which naturally and neceffarily ends the games.

BOOK the THIRD.

AFTER the other perfons are difpofed

in their proper places-of reft, the Goddefs tranfports the King to her Temple, and there lays him to flumber with his head on her lap; a pofition of marvellous virtue, which

caufes

causes all the visions of wild enthufiafts, projectors, politicians, inamoratos, caftle-builders, chymifts and poets. He is immediately carry'd on the wings of fancy to the Elizian fhade, where on the banks of Lethe the fouls of the dull are dip'd by Bavius, before their entrance into this world. There he is met by the ghost of Settle, and by him made acquainted with the wonders of the place, and with those which he is himself deftin'd to perform. He takes him to a Mount of Vifion, from whence he fhews him the past triumphs of the empire of Dulnefs, then the prefent, and laftly the future. How fmall a part of the world was ever conquered by Science, how foon thofe conquefts were stop'd, and those very nations again reduced to her dominion. Then distinguishing the Island of Great Britain, fhews by what aids, and by what perfons, it fhall be forthwith brought to her empire. These he caufes to pafs in review before his eyes, defcribing each by his proper figure, character, and qualifications. On a fudden the Scene fhifts, and a vaft 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 unmix'd with concern, that his own times were but the types of thefe; He prophecies how firft the nation shall be over-run with farces, opera's, shows;

and

and the throne of Dulness advanced over both the Theatres: Then how her fons fhall prefide in the feats of arts and fciences, 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 Foretafte,, giving a Glimpfe or Pifgab-fight of the promis'd Fulness of her Glory; the Accomplishment whereof will, in all probability, here-after be the Theme of many other and great er Dunciads.

THE