48
The Dunciad.
Book I.
How hints, like spawn, scarce quick in embryo lie,
60 How new-born nonsense first is taught to cry,
Maggots half-form'd in rhyme exactly meet,
And learn to crawl upon poetic feet.
Here one poor word an hundred clenches makes,[R. 1]
And ductile dulness[I. 1] new meanders takes;
65 There motley Images her fancy strike,
Figures ill pair'd, and Similies unlike.
She sees a Mob of Metaphors advance,
Pleas'd with the madness of the mazy dance:
How Tragedy and Comedy embrace;
70 How Farce and Epic get a jumbled race;[R. 2]
60 How new-born nonsense first is taught to cry,
Maggots half-form'd in rhyme exactly meet,
And learn to crawl upon poetic feet.
Here one poor word an hundred clenches makes,[R. 1]
And ductile dulness[I. 1] new meanders takes;
65 There motley Images her fancy strike,
Figures ill pair'd, and Similies unlike.
She sees a Mob of Metaphors advance,
Pleas'd with the madness of the mazy dance:
How Tragedy and Comedy embrace;
70 How Farce and Epic get a jumbled race;[R. 2]
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 63. Here one poor word an hundred clenches makes,) It may not be amiss to give an instance or two of these operations of Dulness; out of the Works of her Sons, celebrated in the Poem. A great Critic formerly held these clenches in such abhorrence, that he declared "he that would pun would pick a pocket." Yet Mr. Dennis's works afford us notable examples in this kind: "Alexander Pope hath sent abroad into the world as many Bulls as his namesake Pope Alexander.—Let us take the initial and final letters of his Name, viz. A . P-E, and they give you the idea of an Ape.—Pope comes from the Latin word Popa, which signifies a little Wart; or from poppysma, because he was continually popping out squibs of wit, or rather Popysmata, or Popisms." Dennis on Hom. and Daily Journal, June 11, 1728.
- ↑ Ver. 70, &c. How Farce and Epic—How Time himself, &c.] Allude to the transgressions of the Unities in the Plays of such poets. For the miracles wrought upon Time and Place, and the mixture of Tragedy and Comedy, Farce and Epic, see Pluto and Proserpine, Penelope, &c. if yet extant.
Imitations
