The DunciadFans of literary lampoonery will delight in the no-holds-barred, scorched-earth satire that British poet Alexander Pope unleashes in his witty masterpiece, The Dunciad. Disgusted by the teeming waves of self-proclaimed "writers" who emerged in search of a quick buck when the growing availability of cheaply printed books made sentimental stories popular with the public, Pope took it upon himself to put these hacks in their place in an epic poem lambasting their dullness and lack of refinement. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 12
Page 4
... Mighty Mother, and her son who brings The Smithfield Muses to the ear of Kings, I sing. Say you, her instruments the great! Call'd to this work by Dulness, Jove, and Fate; You by whose care, in vain decried and curst, Still 4 Book I.
... Mighty Mother, and her son who brings The Smithfield Muses to the ear of Kings, I sing. Say you, her instruments the great! Call'd to this work by Dulness, Jove, and Fate; You by whose care, in vain decried and curst, Still 4 Book I.
Page 12
... King John in silence modestly expires: No merit now the dear Nonjuror claims, Molière's old stubble in a moment flames. Tears gush'd again, as from pale Priam's eyes, When the last blaze sent Ilion to the skies. Rous'd by the light, old ...
... King John in silence modestly expires: No merit now the dear Nonjuror claims, Molière's old stubble in a moment flames. Tears gush'd again, as from pale Priam's eyes, When the last blaze sent Ilion to the skies. Rous'd by the light, old ...
Page 13
... and Puns. Let Bawdry, Billingsgate, my daughters dear, Support his front, and Oaths bring up the rear: And under his, and under Archer's wing, Gaming and Grub-street skulk behind the King. 'Oh! when shall rise a monarch all our own, And 13.
... and Puns. Let Bawdry, Billingsgate, my daughters dear, Support his front, and Oaths bring up the rear: And under his, and under Archer's wing, Gaming and Grub-street skulk behind the King. 'Oh! when shall rise a monarch all our own, And 13.
Page 14
... King Colley!' cries, 'God save King Colley!' Drury-lane replies. To Needham's quick the voice triumphant rode, But pious Needham dropt the name of God; Back to the Devil the last echoes roll, And 'Coll!' each butcher roars at Hockley ...
... King Colley!' cries, 'God save King Colley!' Drury-lane replies. To Needham's quick the voice triumphant rode, But pious Needham dropt the name of God; Back to the Devil the last echoes roll, And 'Coll!' each butcher roars at Hockley ...
Page 15
Alexander Pope. Book. II. *. ARGUMENT The King being proclaimed, the solemnity is graced with public games and sports of various kinds; not instituted by the Hero, as by Æneas in Virgil, but for greater honour by the Goddess in person (in ...
Alexander Pope. Book. II. *. ARGUMENT The King being proclaimed, the solemnity is graced with public games and sports of various kinds; not instituted by the Hero, as by Æneas in Virgil, but for greater honour by the Goddess in person (in ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ancient appear arts bards bears Behold born bright bring cause charms circle close clouds Court cries Critics crowd Curll dance dark dead deep divine draw dull Dulness Dunce ev'ry eyes face fair fall fate fire flames fool gave give glory Goddess Gods grace half hand head Heav'n Hibernian horns hundred keep King knows land laws Lead lifts light look mighty mind mother mounts Muse Nature never Night o'er once past Poets praise Queen race reign rest rhyme rise roll rose round Science sense shade shine shows sing sink sire sleep soft sons soon soul sound spread stage stand streams sure thee thick thine things thou thro throne Till true turns virtue whole wide wings wonders youth