Book III.
The Dunciad.
135
Some free from rhyme or reason, rule or check,
Break Priscian's head, and Pegasus's neck;
Down, down they larum, with impetuous whirl,
The Pindars, and the Miltons of a Curl.
165 Silence, ye Wolves while Ralph[R 1] to Cynthia howls,
And makes Night hideous—Answer him, ye Owls!
Sense, speech, and measure, living tongues and dead,
Let all give way—and Morris[R 2] may be read.
Flow Welsted, flow![R 3] like thine inspirer, Beer,[I 1]
170 Tho' stale, not ripe; tho' thin, yet never clear;
Break Priscian's head, and Pegasus's neck;
Down, down they larum, with impetuous whirl,
The Pindars, and the Miltons of a Curl.
165 Silence, ye Wolves while Ralph[R 1] to Cynthia howls,
And makes Night hideous—Answer him, ye Owls!
Sense, speech, and measure, living tongues and dead,
Let all give way—and Morris[R 2] may be read.
Flow Welsted, flow![R 3] like thine inspirer, Beer,[I 1]
170 Tho' stale, not ripe; tho' thin, yet never clear;
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 165. Ralph] James Ralph, a name inserted after the first editions, not known to our author till he writ a swearing-piece called Sawney, very abusive of Dr. Swift, Mr. Gay, and himself. These lines allude to a thing of his, intitled, Night, a Poem:
———Visit thus the glimpses of the Moon,
Making Night hideous———Shakesp.
This low writer attended his own works with panegyricks in the Journals, and once in particular praised himself highly above Mr. Addison, in wretched remarks upon that Author's Account of English Poets, printed in a London Journal, Sept. 1728. He ended at last in the common Sink of all such writers, a political News-paper, to which he was recommended by his friend Arnall, and received a small pittance for pay. - ↑ Ver. 168. Morris] Besaleel, see Book 2.
- ↑ Ver. 169. Flow Welsted, &c.] Of this Author see the Remark on Book 2. ver. 209. But (to be impartial) add to it the following different character of him:
Imitations
- ↑ Ver. 199. Flow Wested, flow! &c.] Parody on Denham, Cooper's Hill.O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream
My great example, as it is my theme:
Tho' deep, yet clear; tho' gentle, yet not dull;
Strong without rage; without o'erflowing, full.
