Benlowes, propitious still to blockheads, bows; 21 And blunt the sense, and fit it for a skull REMARKS. 1 must confess I do want eloquence, 'I there was gravell'd, could no farther get." 25 He wrote fourscore books in the reign of James I. and Charles 1. and afterwards (like Edward Ward) kept an alehouse in LongAcre. He died in 1654. v. 21. Benlowes.] A country gentleman, famous for his own bad poetry, and for patronizing bad poets, as may be seen from many Dedications of Quarles and others to him. Some of these anegram'd his name Benlowes into Benevolus; to verify which he spent his whole estate upon them. v. 22. And Shadwell nods, the poppy, &c.] Shadwell took opium for many years, and died of too large a doze, in the year 1692. v. 24. Old Bavius sits.] Bavius was an ancient poet, celebrated by Virgil for the like cause as Bayes by our Author, though not in so Christian-like a manner: for heathenishly it is declared by Virgil of Bavius, that he ought to be hated and detested for his evil-works: Quí bavium non odit ? whereas we have often had occasion to observe our Poet's great good nature and mercifulness through the whole course of this Poem. Scribl Lethaeumque domos placidas qui praenatat amnem &c. Virg. Æn. VL v. 24. Old Bavius sits to dip poctic souls.] Alluding to the story of Thetis dipping Achilles to render him impenetrable: At pater Anchises penitus convalle virenti • Inclusas animas, superumque ad lumen ituras, 30 Instant, when dipt, away they wing their flight, 34 Wond'ring he gaz'd: when, lo; a sage appears, By his broad shoulders known, and length of ears, Known by the band and suit which Settle wore (His only suit) for twice three years before: All as the vest appear'd the wearer's frame, Old in new state, another yet the same. Bland and familiar, as in life, begun Son: Thus the great Father to the greater REMARKS. 40 44 v. 28... Browne and Mears.] Booksellers, printers for any body...The allegory of the souls of the dull coming forth in the form of books dressed in calf's leather, and being let abroad in vast numbers by booksellers, is sufficiently intelligible. v. 34... Ward in pillory.] John Ward, of Hackney, Esq. member of parliament, being convicted of forgery, was first expelled the House, and then sentenced to the pillory, on the 17th of February, 1727. IMITATIONS. *. 28....unbar thy gates of light. An hemistich of Milton. v. 31, 32. Millions and Millions..Thick as the stars, &c.] 'Quam multa in silvis autumni frigore primo Lapsa cadunt folia, aut ad terram gurgite ab alto "Quam multae glomerantur aves,' &c. Virg. Æn. VI 55 Thou, yet unborn, has touch'd this sacred shore; IMITATIONS. D. 54. Mix'd the owl's ivy with the poet's bays.】 B Sine tempore circum 60 "Inter victrices heradem tibi serpere lauros." Virg. Ecl. viii, v. 61, 62. For this our Queen unfolds to vision true Thy mental eye, for thou hast much to view.] This has a resemblance to that passage in Milton, Book XI. where the angel To noble sights from Adam's eye removed Ascend this hill, whose cloudy point commands Her boundless empire over seas and lands. Sce, round the poles where keener spangles shine, Where spices smoke beneath the burning line, 70 (Earth's wide extremes) her sable flag display'd, And all the nations cover'd in her shade! Far eastward cast thine eye, from whence the Sun And orient Science their bright course begun : One godlike monarch all that pride confounds, 75 He, whose long wall the wand'ring Tartar bounds; Heav'ns! what a pile! whole ages perish there, And one bright blaze turns learning into air. Thence to the South extend thy gladden'd eyes; There rival flames with equal glory rise; 80 From shelves to shelves see greedy Vulcan roll, And lick up all their physic of the soul. How little, mark! that portion of the ball, Where, faint at best, the beams of Science fall: Soon as they dawn, from hyperborean skies Embody'd dark, what clouds of Vandals rise! Far eastward cast thine eye, from whence the Sun 85 But as this was thought to contradict that line of the introduction, In eldest times, e'er mortals writ or read, which supposes the sun and science did not set out together, it was altered to their bright course begun. But this slip, as usual, escaped the gentlemen of the Dunciad. IMITATIONS." There is a general allusion in what follows to that whole episode 1 Lo! where Mæotis sleeps, and hardly flows 105 110 Behold yon' isle, by palmers, pilgrims trod, 113 Men bearded, bald, cowl'd, uncowl'd, shod, unshod, Peel'd, patch'd, and pyebald, linsey-woolseybrothers, Grave mummers! sleeveless some,andshirtless others |