176
The Dunciad.
Book IV.
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 244. And much Divinity without a Νοῦς] A word much affected by the learned Aristarchus in common conversation, to signify Genius or natural acumen. But this passage has a farther view: Νοῦς was the Platonic term for Mind, or the first Cause, and that system of Divinity is here hinted at which terminates in blind Nature without a Νοῦς: such as the Poet afterwards describes (speaking of the dreams of one of these later Platonists)Or that bright Image to our Fancy draw,
Which Theocles in raptur'd Vision saw,
That Nature ——— &c. - ↑ Ver. 245, 246. Barrow, Atterbury,] Isaac Barrow Master of Trinity, Francis Atterbury Dean of Christ-church, both great Genius's and eloquent Preachers; one more conversant in the sublime Geometry, the other in classical Learning; but who equally made it their care to advance the polite Arts in their several Societies.
- ↑ Ver. 247. the heavy Canon] Canon here, if spoken of Artillery, is in the plural number; if of the Canons of the House, in the singular, and meant only of one: in which case I suspect the Poll to be a false reading, and that it should be the Poll, or Head of that Canon. It may be objected, that this is a mere Paranomasia or Pun. But what of that? Is may figure of Speech more apposite to our gentle Goddess, or more frequently used by her, and her Children, especially of the University? Doubtless it better suits the Character of Dulness, yea of a Doctor, than that of an Angel; yet Milton fear'd not to put a considerable quantity into the mouths of his. It hath indeed been observed, that they were the Devil's Angels, as if he did it to suggest the Devil was the Author as well of false Wit, as of false Religion, and that the Father of Lies was also the Father of Puns. But this is idle: It must be own'd a Christian practice, used in the primitive times by some of the Fathers, and in later by most of the Sons of the Church; till the debauch'd reign of Charles the second, when the shameful Passion for Wit overthrew every thing: and even then the best Writers admitted it, provided it was obscene, under the name of the Double entendre. {{float right|Scribl.
- ↑ Ver. 248. And Metaphysic smokes, &c.] Here the learned Aristarchus ending the first member of his harangue in behalf of Words; and entering on the other half, which regards the teaching of Things; very artfully connects the two parts in an encomium on Metaphysics, a kind of Middle nature between words and things: communicating, in its obscurity with Substance, and in its emptiness with Names. Scribl.
