for Epic poefy tho' fince he hath altered it to fixty, the year in which he published his Alfred. I. True it is, that the talents for Criticism, namely fmartness, quick cenfure, vivacity of remark, certainty of affeveveration, indeed all but acerbity, feem rather the gifts of Youth than of riper age: But it is far otherwise in Poetry; witnefs the works of Mr. Rymer and Mr. Dennis, who beginning with Criticism, became afterwards fuch Poets as no age hath parallel'd. With good reason therefore did our author chufe to write his Efay on that fubject at twenty, and referve for his maturer years, this great and wonderful work of the Dunciad. 1. See his Elays. DUNJ DUNCIADOS PERIOCHA: O R, ARGUMENTS to the BOOKS. T BOOK the FIRST. HE Propofition of the fubject. The Invo cation, and the Infcription. Then the Original of the great empire of Dulness, and caufe of the continuance thereof. The beloved feat of the Goddess is described, with her chief attendants and officers, her functions, operations, and effects. Then the poem haftes into the midst of things, prefenting her on the evening of a Lord Mayor's day, revolving the long fucceffion of her fons, and the glories paft, and to come. She fixes her eye on Tibbald to be the inftrument of that great event which is the fubject of the poem. He is described 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 raises an altar of proper books, and (making first his folemn prayer and declaration) purposes thereon to facrifice all his unfuccessful writings. As the pyle is kindled, the Goddess beholding the flame from her feat, flies in person 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 her arts, and initiates him into her mysteries; then announcing the death of Settle that night, anoints, and proclaims him Succeffor. Воок TH Book the SECOND. HE King being proclaimed, the folemnity is graced with publick Games and sports 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 Poets and Criticks, attended (as is but juft) with their Patrons and Bookfellers. The Goddefs is firft pleafed for her difport to propofe games to the Bookjellers, and fetteth up the phantom of a Poet which they contend to overtake. The races defcribed, with their divers accidents and next, the game for a Poetefs. Then follows the exercises for the Poets, of Tickling, Vociferating, Diving: the first holds forth the arts and practices of Dedicators, the second of Difputants and fuftian poets, the third of profund, dark, and dirty authors. Laftly, 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 verse and the other in profe, deliberately read, without fleeping: The various effects of which, with the several degrees and manners of their operation, are here most lively fet forth Till the whole number, not of criticks only, but of spectators, 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 Goddess transports the King to her Temple, and there lays him to flumber with his head on her lap; a pofition of marvellous virtue, which caufes all the vifions of wild enthusiasts, projectors, politicians, inamorato's, caftle-builders, chymifts and poets. He is immediately carry'd on the the wings of Fancy to the Elizian fhade, where on the banks of Lethe the fouls of the dull are dipp'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 paft triumphs of the empire of Dulness, then the present, and laftly the future: How small a part of the world was ever conquered by Science, how foon those conquefts were ftop'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 shall be forthwith brought to her empire. These he causes to pass in review before his eyes, defcribing each by his proper figure, character, and qualifications. On a fudden the Scene shifts, and a vast 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 first the nation shall be over-run with farces, opera's, shows; 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 fhall return to their original Chaos : A scene, of which the present Action of the Dunciad is but a Type or Foretaste, giving a Glimpse or Pifgahfight 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 |