O! pass more innocent, in infant state, How index-learning turns no student pale, 280 Where things destroy'd are swept to things unborn. The opening clouds disclose each work by turns, Small thanks to France, and none to Rome or Greece, The goddess then, o'er his anointed head, 260 Roused by the light, old Dulness heaved the head, And these to notes are fritter'd quite away: REMARKS. REMARKS. 290 Ver. 296. Tibbald.] Lewis Tibbald (as pronounced) or Theobald (as written) was bred an attorney, and son to an attorney, says Mr. Jacob, of Sitter burn, in Kent. He was the author of some forgotten plays, translations, and other pieces. He was concerned in a paper called the Censot, and a translation of Ovid. There is a notorious idiot, one hight Wachum, who from an under-spur leather to the law, is become an understropper to the playhouse, who has lately burlesqued the Metamorphoses of Ovid by a vile transla tion, &c. This fellow is concerned in an impertinent paper called the Censor.'-Dennis, Rem. on Pope's Homer, p. 9, 10. Ibid. Ozell Mr. John Ozell, if we credit Mr. Jacob, did go to school in Leicestershire, where somebody left him 270 something to live on, when he shall retire from business. He was designed to be sent to Cambridge, in order for priesthood; but he chose rather to be placed in an office of accounts, in the city, being qualified for the same by his skill in arithmetic, and writing the necessary hands. He has obliged the world with many translatious of French plays-Jacob, Lives of Dram. Poets, p. 198. Mr. Jaceb's character of Mr. Ozell seems vastly short of his merits, and he ought to have further justice doue him, having since confuted all sarcasms on his learning and genius, by an advertisement of Sept. 20, 1729, in a paper called the Weekly Medley, &c. As to my learning, this envious wretch knew, and every body knows, that the whole bench of bishops, not long ago, were pleased to give me a purse of guineas, for discovering the erroneous transla Ver. 238.210. Tate-Shadwell.] Two of his predecessors tions of the Common-prayer in Portuguese, Spanish, French, in the laurel. Italian, &c. As for my genius, let Mr. Cleland show better Ver. 25. Now flames the Cid, &c.] In the first notes verses in all Pope's works, than Ozell's version of Boileau's on the Dunciad it was said, that this author was particular-Lutrin, which the late lord Halifax was so pleased with, that ly excellent at tragedy. This,' says he, is as unjust as to he complimented him with leave to dedicate it to him, &c. y I could not dance on a rope.' But certain it is, that he Let him show better and truer poetry in the Rape of the bed attempted to dance on this rope, and fell most shame-Lock, than in Ozell's Rape of the Bucket, (la Secchia fly, having produced no less than four tragedies (the rapita.) And Mr. Toland and Mr. Gildon publicly declared Bares of which the poet preserves in these few lines;) the Ozel's translation of Homer to be, as it was prior, so likethe first of them were fairly printed, acted, and damned; wise superior to Pope's.-Surely, surely, every man is free Le fourth suppressed in fear of the like treatment. to deserve well of his country --John Ozell. Ver. 253, 251. The dear Nonjuror--Moliere's old stubble.] A comedy thrashed out of Moliere's Tartuffe, and so much the translator's favourite, that he assures us all our author's dislike to it could only arise from disaffection to the govern ment. He assures us, that when he had the honour to kes his majesty's hand, upon presenting his dedication of it, he was graciously pleased out of his royal bounty, to order him two hundred pounds for it. And this, he doubts not, grieved Mr. P.' We cannot but subscribe to such reverend testimonies, as those of the bench of bishops, Mr. Toland, and Mr. Gildon. Ver. 290. A heidegger) A strange bird from Switzerland, and not, as some have supposed, the name of an eminent person who was a man of parts, and, as was said of Petronius, arbiter elegantiorum. Ver. 296. Withers.] See on ver. 146. Ibid. Galdon] Charles Gildon, a writer of criticisms and libels in the last age, bred at St. Omer's with the Jesuits; Ver. 258. Thule] An unfinished poem of that name, of but renouncing popery, he published Blount's books against which one sheet was printed many years ago, by Ambrose the divinity of Christ, the Oracles of Reason, &c. He signa Poillips, a northern author. It is an usual method of putting lized himself as a critic, having written some very bad plays: out a fire, to east wet sheets upon it. Some critics have abused Mr. P. very scandalously in an anonymous pamphlet been of opinion that this sheet was of the nature of the of the life of Mr. Wycherley, printed by Curll; in another, asbestos, which cannot be consumed by fire; but I rather called the New Rehearsal, printed in 1744; in a third, entithink it an allegorical allusion to the coldness and heaviness tled the Complete Art of English Poetry, in two volumes: of the writing. and others. Ver. 269. Great mother] Magna mater here applied to Ver. 297. Howard) Hon. Edward Howard, author of Dulcess. The quidnuncs, a name given to the ancient the British Princes, and a great number of wonderful pieces, sers of several political clubs, who were constantly in-celebrated by the late earls of Dorset and Rochester, duke Goting quid nunc? What news? lof Buckingham, Mr. Waller, &c. 300 Thou Cibber! thou, his laurel shall support, And all be sleep, as at an ode of thine!'" She ceased. Then swells the chapel-royal throat: So when Jove's block descended from on high, 330 BOOK THE SECOND. The king being proclaimed, the solemnity is graced with BOOK II. And the hoarse nation croak'd, ‘God save king Log.' HIGH on a gorgeous seat, that far out-shone REMARKS. Ver. 309, 310. Under Archer's wing,-Gaming, &c.] When the statute against gaming was drawn up, it was represented, that the king, by ancient custom, plays at hazard one night in the year; and therefore a clause was inserted, with an exemption as to that particular. Under this pretence, the groom-porter had a room appropriated to gaming all the summer the court was at Kensington, which his majesty accidentally being acquainted with, with a just indignation prohibited. It is reported the same practice is yet continued wherever the court resides, and the hazard table there open to all the professed gamesters in town. "Greatest and justest sovereign! know you this? Alas! no more than Thames' calm head can know, Whose meads his armis drown, or whose corn o'erflow.' Donne to Queen Eliz. Ver. 319. Chapel-royal.] The voices and instruments used in the service of the chapel-royal being also employed in the performance of the birth-day and new-year odes. REMARKS. But how much all indulgence is lost upon these people may appear from the just reflection made on their constant conduct and constant fate, in the following epigram: Ye little wits, that gleam'd awhile, 'To compass Phoebus' car about, Alas! those skies are not your sphere; There he shall ever burn: Weep, weep, and fall! for earth ye were, And must to earth return.' Two things there are, upon the supposition of which the Ver. 324. But pious Needham.] A matron of great fame, and very religious in her way; whose constant prayer it was, very basis of all verbal criticism is founded and supported: that she might get enough by her profession to leave it off The first, that an author could never fail to use the best in time, and make her peace with God.' But her fate was word on every occasion: the second, that a critic cannot not so happy; for being convicted, and set in the pillory, she choose but know which that is. This being granted, whenwas, (to the lasting shame of all her great friends and vota-ever any word doth not fully content us, we take upon us to ries) so ill used by the populace, that it put an end to her days. Ver. 325. Back to the Devil.] The Devil Tavern in Fleet-street, where these odes are usually rehearsed before they are performed at court. Upon which a wit of those times makes this epigram: "When laureates make odes, do you ask of what sort? Ver. 328.-Ogilby-God save king Log!] See Ogilby's conclude, first, that the author could never have used it; and, secondly, that he must have used that very one, which we conjecture, in its stead. We cannot, therefore, enough admire the learned Scrib lerus, for his alteration of the text in the last two verses of the preceding book, which in all the former editious stood thus: Hoarse thunder to its bottom shook the beg, And the loud nation croak'd, 'God save king Log! He has, with great judgment, transposed these two epithets; putting hoarse to the nation, and loud to the thunder; and this being evidently the true reading, he vouchsafed pot Our author manifests here, and elsewhere, a prodigious so much as to mention the former: for which assertion of tenderness for the bad writers. We see he selects the only the just right of a critic he merits the acknowledgment of good passage, perhaps, in all that ever Ogilby writ! which all sound commentators. shows how candid and patient a reader he mist have been. Ver. 2. Henley's gilt tub,] The pulpit of a dissenter is What can be more kind and affectionate than the words in usually called a tub; but that of Mr. Orator Henley was co the preface to his poems, where he labours to call upon all vered with velvet, and adorned with gold. He had also a our humanity and forgiveness towards these unlucky men, fair altar, and over it this extraordinary inscription: The by the most moderate representation of their case that has primitive eucharist. See the history of this person, book ni Ver. 2. or Fleckno's Irish throne,] Richard Fleckno was ever been given by any author? Or that where on her Curlls the public pours, Not with more glee, by hands pontific crown'd, With authors, stationers obey'd the call: 20 So like, that critics said, and courtiers swore, And now the queen, to glad her sons, proclaims A church collects the saints of Drury-lane. REMARKS. 30 REMARKS. 50 joy. He was ever after a constant frequenter of the pope's table, drank abundantly, and poured forth verses without number. Paulus Jovias, Elog. Vir. Doct. chap. lxxxiii. Some idea of his poetry is given by Fam. Strada in his Prolusions. species of mirth, called a joke, arising from a mal-entendu Ver. 34. And gentle Dulness ever loves a joke.] This may be well supposed to be the delight of Dulness. Ver. 47. Never was dash'd out, at one lucky hit.] Our author here seems willing to give some account of the possibility of Dulness making a wit (which could be done no other way than by chance.) The fiction is the more reconan Irish priest, but had laid aside (as himself expressed it) being at a loss to express the foam of Alexander's horse, ciled to probability by the known story of Apelles, who, the mechanic part of priesthood. He printed some plays, dashed his pencil in despair at the picture, and happened to poems, letters, and travels. I doubt not, our author took do it by that fortunate stroke. occasion to mention him in respect to the poem of Mr. Dry- Ver. 50. And call'd the phantom More.] Curl, in his den, to which this bears some resemblance, though of a cha-Key to the Dunciad, affirmed this to be James Moore racter more different from it than that of the Eneid from the Smith, Esq. and it is probable (considering what is said of Iliad, or the Lotrin of Boileau from the Defait de Bouts Ri-him in the testimonies) that some might fancy our author mées of Sarazin. obliged to represent this gentleman as a plagiary, or to pass It may be just worth mentioning, that the eminence from for one himself. His case, indeed, was like that of a man I whence the ancient sophists entertained their auditors, was have heard of, who, as he was sitting in company, perceiv called by the pompous name of a throne. Themistius, ed his next neighbour had stolen his handkerchief: 'Sir,' Orat. i. said the thief, finding himself detected, 'do not expose me, I Ver. 3. Or that whereon her Curlls the public pours.] did it for mere want; be so good but to take it privately out Edmund Curll stood in the pillory at Charing-cross, in March, of my pocket again, and say nothing.' The honest man did 1727-8. This,' saith Edmund Curl, 'is a false assertion-so, but the other cried out, 'See, gentlemen, what a thief I had, indeed, the corporal punishment of what the gentle- we have among us! look, he is stealing my handkerchief! men of the long robe are pleased jocosely to call mounting Some time before, he had borrowed of Dr. Arbuthnot a the rostrum for one hour: but that scene of action was not paper called a Historico-physical account of the South Sea; in the month of March, but in February.' (Curliad, 12mo. and of Mr. Pope the memoirs of a Parish Clerk, which for p. 19.) And of the history of his being tossed in a blanket, two years he kept, and read to the Rev. Dr. Young, F. Bilhe saith, Here, Scriblerus! thou leesest in what thou as-lers, Esq. and many others, as his own. Berfest concerning the blanket: it was not a blanket but a for them, he pretended they were lost; but there happening Being applied to rag, p. 25. Much in the same manner Mr. Cibber remonto be another copy of the latter, it came out in Swift's and strated, that his brothers, at Bedlam, mentioned Book i. Pope's Miscellanies. Upon this, it seems, he was so far were not brazen, but blocks; yet our author let it pass un- mistaken as to confess his proceeding by an endeavour to altered, as a trifle that no way altered the relationship. We should think, gentle reader, that we but ill performed 3, 1723,) That the contempt which he and others had fr hide it: unguardedly printing (in the Daily Journal of April or part, if we corrected not as well our own errors now, as those pieces, (which only himself had shown, and handed formerly those of the printer; since what moved us to this about as his own,) occasioned their being lost, and for that work, was solely the love of truth, not in the least any vain cause only not returned.' glory, or desire to contend with great authors. And fur-could be conscious, none but he could be the publisher of it. A fact, of which as none but he ther, our mistakes, we conceive, will the rather be pardoned, The plagiarisms of this person gave occasion to the followas scarce possible to be avoided in writing of such persons ing epigram: and works as do ever shun the light. However, that we Day not any how soften or extenuate the same, we give them thee in the very words of our antagonists; not defending, but retracting them from our heart, and craving excuse of the parties offended: for surely in this work, it hath been above all things our desire to provoke no man. Scribl Ver. 15. Rome in her Capitol saw Querno sit.) Camillo Querno was of Apulia, who hearing the great encourage who having shown some verses of his in manuscript to Mr. instance attested by Mr. Savage, son of the late Earl Rivers; ment which Leo X gave to poets, travelled to Rome with a Moore, wherein Mr. Pope was called first of the tuneful harp in his hand, and sung to it twenty thousand verses of a train, Mr. Moore the next morning sent to Mr. Savage to porn called Alexias. He was introduced as a buffoon to desire him to give those verses another turn, to wit, That To, and promoted to the honour of the laurel; a jest which Pope might now be the first, because Moore had left him the court of Rome and the pope himself entered into so far, as to cause him to ride on an elephant to the Capitol, and the rehearsal of the Rival Modes, his first and only work; unrivalled, in turning his style to comedy. This was during to hold a solemn festival on his coronation; at which it is recorded the poet himself was so transported as to weep for! 'Moore always smiles whenever he recites; He smiles (you think) approving what he writes. A modest man may like what's not his own.' * See Life of C. C. chap. vi. p. 149. All gaze This prize is mine; who 'tempt it are my foes: REMARKS. The race by vigour, not by vaunts is won: 60 the town condemned it in the action, but he printed it in Which Curll's Corinna chanced that morn to make; 1720-7, with this modest motto: 'Hic castus, artemque repono.' The smaller pieces which we have heard attributed to this author are, An Epigram on the Bridge at Blenheim, by Dr. Evans: Cosmelia, by Mr. Pit, Mr. Jones, &c. The Mock Marriage of a mad Divine, with a Cl. for a Parson, by Dr. W. The Saw pit, a Simile, by a Friend. Certain Physical Works on Sir James Baker; and some unowned Letters, Advertisements, and Epigrams against our author in the Daily Journal. Notwithstanding what is here collected of the person imagined by Curll to be meant in this place, we cannot be of that opinion; since our poet had certainly no need of vindicating half a dozen verses to himself, which every reader had done for him; since the name itself is not spelled Moore, but More; and, lastly, since the learned Scriblerus has so well proved the contrary. 71 (Such was her wont, at early dawn to drop Ver. 50. The phantom More.] It appears from hence, Scribl. Ver. 53. But lofty Lintot.] We enter here upon the episode of the booksellers; persons, whose names being more known and famous in the learned world than those of the authors in this poem, do therefore need less explanation. The action of Mr. Lintot here imitates that of Dares in Vir gil, rising just in this manner to lay hold of a bull. This eminent bookseller printed the Rival Modes before men tioned. As Ver. 58. Stood dauntless Curll: We come now to a character of much respect, that of Mr. Edmund Curll. a plain repetition of great actions is the best praise of them, we shall only say of this eminent man, that he carried the trade many lengths beyond what it ever before arrived at: and that he was the envy and admiration of all his profession. He possessed himself of a command over all authors whatever he caused them to write what he pleased; they could not call their very names their own. He was not only famous among these; he was taken notice of by the state, the church, and the law, and received particular marks of distinction from each. All vain petitions mounting to the sky, 90 100 It will be owned that he is here introduced with all possible dignity. He speaks like the intrepid Diomede; he runs like the swift footed Achilles : if he falls, 'tis like the beloved Nisus; and (what Homer makes to be the chief of all praises) he is favoured of the gods: he says but three words, and his prayer is heard; a goddess conveys it to the seat of Jupiter: though he loses the prize, he gains the victory; the great Where the tall nothing stood or seem'd to stand: 110 mother herself comforts him, she inspires him with expe- A shapeless shade, it melted from his sight, dients, she honours him with an immortal present (such as Achilles receives from Thetis, and Æneas from Venus,) at Like forms in clouds, or visions of the night. once instructive and prophetical: after this he is unrivalled, and triumphant. REMARKS. The tribute our author here pays him is a grateful return for several unmerited obligations; many weighty animadversions on the public affairs, and many excellent and divert- Ver. 70. Curll's Corinna.] This name, it seems, was ing pieces on private persons, has he given to his name. If taken by one Mrs. Thomas, who procured some private ever he owed two verses to any other, he owed Mr. Curl letters of Mr. Pope, while almost a boy, to Mr. Cromwell, some thousands. He was every day extending his fame, and sold them without the consent of either of those gentleand enlarging his writings: witness innumerable instances; men, to Curl, who printed them in 12mo, 1727. He disbut it shall suffice only to mention the Court Poems, which covered her to be the publisher, in his Key, p. 11. We only he meant to publish as the work of the true writer, a lady take this opportunity of mentioning the manner in which of quality; but being threatened first, and afterwards pun-those letters go: abroad, which the author was ashamed of ished for it by Mr. Pope, he generously transferred it from as very trivial things, full not only of levities, but of wrong her to him, and ever since printed it in his name. The single judgments of men and books, and only excusable from the time that ever he spoke to Mr. C. was on that affair, and youth and inexperience of the writer. to that happy incident he owed all the favour since received from him so true is the saying of Dr. Sydenham, that any one shall be, at some time or other, the better or the worse, for having but seen or spoken to a good or bad man.' Ver. 2. Down with the Bible, up with the pope's arms.] To seize his papers, Curll, was next thy care; 120 And whisk them back to Evans, Young, and Swift. He grasps an empty Joseph for a John: So Proteus, hunted in a nobler shape, 130 To him the goddess: 'Son! thy grief lay down, REMARKS. So shall each hostile name become our own REMARKS. 140 routed. He also published some malevolent things in the wrote letters to Mr. Pope, protesting his innocence. His British, London, and Daily Journals; and at the same time chief work was a translation of Hesiod, in which Theobald writ notes and half notes, which he carefully owned. Ver. 138. And Concanen, Swift:] In the first edition of this poem there were only asterisks in this place, but the names were since inserted, merely to fill up the verse, and give ease to the ear of the reader. Ver. 140. And we too boast our Garth and Addison.] Nothing is more remarkable than our author's love of prais ing good writers. He has in this very poem celebrated Mr. Locke, Sir Isaac Newton, Dr. Barrow, Dr. Atterbury, Mr. Dryden, Mr. Congreve, Dr. Garth, Mr. Addison; in a word, almost every man of his time that deserved it; even Cibber himself, (presuming him to be the author of the Careless Husband.) It was very difficult to have that pleasure in a poem on this subject, yet he has found means to insert their panegyric, and has made even Dulness out of her own mouth pronounce it. It must have been particularly agreeafriend, and as he was his predecessor in this kind of satire. ble to him to celebrate Dr. Garth; both as his constant The Dispensary attacked the whole body of apothecaries, a much more useful one undoubtedly than that of the bad poets; if in truth this can be a body, of which no two members ever agreed. It also did, what Mr. Theobald says is unpardonable, draw in parts of private character, and introduce persons independent of his subject. Much more would Boileau have incurred his censure, who left all subjects whatever, on all occasions, to fall upon the bad ports Ver. 116. Evans, Young, and Swift.] Some of those (which, it is to be feared, would have been more immedipersons, whose writings, epigrams, or jests he had owned.ately his concern.) But certainly next to commending good See note on ver. 50. Ver. 118. An unpaid tailor] This line has been loudly complained of in Mist, June 8, Dedicated to Sawney, and others, as a most inhuman satire on the poverty of poets; but it is thought our author will be acquitted by a jury of tailors. To me this instance seems unluckily chosen; if it be a satire on any body, it must be on a bad pay-master, since the person to whom they have here applied it, was a man of fortune. Not but poets may well be jealous of so great a prerogative as non-payment; which Mr. Dennis so far asserts, as boldly to pronounce, that, if Homer himself, was not in debt, it was because nobody would trust him.'Pref. to Rem. on the Rape of the Lock, p. 15. Ver. 124. Like Congreve, Addison, and Prior;] These authors being such whose names will reach posterity, we shal' not give any account of them, but proceed to those of whom it is necessary.-Besaleel Morris was author of some satires on the translators of Homer, with many other things printed in newspapers-- Bond writ a satire against Mr. P. Capt. Breval was author of the Confederates, an ingenious dramatic performance, to expose Mr. P., Mr. Gay, Dr. Arbuthnot, and some ladies of quality,' says Curll, Key, Ver. 125. Mears, Warner, Wilkins] Booksellers and Printers of much anonymous stuff. who can only that way be made of any use to it. This writers, the greatest service to learning is to expose the bad, truth is very well set forth in these lines, addressed to our author: 'The craven rook, and pert jackdaw (Though neither birds of moral kind,) 'With Egypt's art thy pen may strive: Becomes a precious mummy dead.' Ver. 142. Rueful length of face.] The decrepit person or figure of a man are no reflections upon his genius. An honest mind will love and esteem a man of worth, though he be deformed or poor. Yet the author of the Dunciad hath libelled a person for his ruefu! length of face! Mist's Journal, June 8. This genius and man of worth, whom an Ver. 126. Breval, Bond, Besaleel,] I foresee it will be honest mind should love, is Mr. Curll. True it is, he stood objected from this line, that we were in an error in our as- in the pillory, an incident which will lengthen the face of sertion on ver. 50 of this book, that More was a fictitious any man, though it were ever so comely, therefore is no re name, since those persons are equally represented by the flection on the natural beauty of Mr. Curll. But as to repoet as phantoms. So at first sight it may be seen; but be flections on any man's face or figure, Mr. Dennis saith not deceived, reader; these also are not real persons. Tis excellently; Natural deformity comes not by our fault; it true, Curll declares Breval a captain, author of a piece call-is often occasioned by calamities and diseases, which a man ed The Confederates; but the same Curll first said it was can no more help than a monster can his deformity. There Written by Joseph Gay. Is his second assertion to be credit- is no one misfortune, and no one disease, but what all the ed any more than his first? He likewise affirms Bond to be rest of mankind are subject to.-But the deformity of this one who writ a satire on our poet: but where is such a author is visible, present, lasting, unalterable, and peculiar satire to be found? where was such a writer ever heard of? to himself. "Tis the mark of God and nature upon him, to As for Besaleel, it carries forgery in the very name; nor is give us warming that we should hold no society with him, it, as the others are, a surname. Thou mayest depend upon as a creature not of our original, nor of our species; and they it no such authors ever lived: all phantoms. Scribl. who have refused to take this warning which God and naVer. 128. Joseph Gay, a fictitious name put by Curl ture has given them, and have, in spite of it, by a senseless before several pamphlets, which made them pass with many presumption ventured to be familiar with him, have severely for Mr. Gay's.-The ambiguity of the word Joseph, which suffered, &c. "Tis certain his original is not from Adam, likewise signifies a loose upper coat, gives much pleasantry but from the devil,' &c.-Dennis, Character of Mr. P. to the idea. octavo, 1716. Ver. 132. And turn this whole illusion on the town:] It Admirably it is observed by Mr. Dennis against Mr. Law, was a common practice of this bookseller to publish vile p. 33. That the language of Billingsgate can never be the pieces of obscure bands under the names of eminent authors. language of charity, nor consequently of christianity.' I Ver. 138. Cook shall be Prior:] The man here specified should else be tempted to use the language of a critic; for Writ a thing called The Battle of the Poets, in which Phillips what is more provoking to a commentator, than to behold and Welsted were the heroes, and Swift and Pope utterly his author thus portrayed? Yet I consider it really hurts |