Page images
PDF
EPUB

great event which is the fubject of the poem. He is defcribed pensive in his study, giving up the cause, and apprehending the period of her empire from the old age of the present 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 рост her felf to him, tranfports him to her Temple, unfolds all her arts, and initiates him into her myfteries; 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 Eneas in Virgil, but for greater honour by the Goddess 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 Po sts and Criticks, attended (as is but juft) 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 profund, dark, and dirty authors. Lastly, for the Criticks, the Goddess propofes (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 fpectators, actors, and all present 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 flamber with his head on her lap; a polition of marvellous virtue, which

causes

causes all the vifions of wild enthusiasts, 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 Dulneís, then the prefent, and lastly the future. How small a part of the world was ever conquered by Science, how foon thofe conquefts were ftop'd, and those very nations again reduced to her dominion. Then diftinguishing the Island of Great Britain, fhews by what aids, and by what perfons, it fhall be forthwith brought to her empire. Thefe 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 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 fhall be over-run with farces, opera's, shows;

and

[ocr errors]

and the throne of Dulness advanced over both the Theatres: Then how her fons fhall prefide in the feats of arts and sciences, till in conclufion all shall return to their original Chaos: Afcene, of which the present Action of the Dunciad is but a Type or Foretafte, giving a Glimpfe or Pisgah-fight of the promis'd Fulness of her Glory; the Accomplishment whereof will, in all probability, hereafter be the Theme of many other and greater Dunciads.

THE

« PreviousContinue »