178
The Dunciad.
Book IV.
He may indeed (if sober all this time)
260 Plague with Dispute, or persecute with Rhyme.
We only furnish what he cannot use,
Or wed to what he must divorce, a Muse:
Full in the midst of Euclid dip at once,
And petrify a Genius[R 1] to a Dunce:
265 Or set on Metaphysic ground to prance,
Show all his paces, not a step advance.
With the same Cement, ever sure to bind,
We bring to one dead level ev'ry mind.
Then take him to devellop, if you can,
270 And hew the Block off,[R 2] and get out the Man.
But wherefore waste I words? I see advance
Whore, Pupil, and lac'd Governor[R 3][R 4] from France.
260 Plague with Dispute, or persecute with Rhyme.
We only furnish what he cannot use,
Or wed to what he must divorce, a Muse:
Full in the midst of Euclid dip at once,
And petrify a Genius[R 1] to a Dunce:
265 Or set on Metaphysic ground to prance,
Show all his paces, not a step advance.
With the same Cement, ever sure to bind,
We bring to one dead level ev'ry mind.
Then take him to devellop, if you can,
270 And hew the Block off,[R 2] and get out the Man.
But wherefore waste I words? I see advance
Whore, Pupil, and lac'd Governor[R 3][R 4] from France.
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 264. petrify a Genius] Those who have no Genius, employ'd in works of imagination; those who have, in abstract sciences.
- ↑ Ver. 270. And hew the Block off.] A notion of Aristotle, that there was originally in every block of marble, a Statue, which would appear on the removal of the superfluous parts.
- ↑ Ver. 272. lac'd Governor] Why lac'd? Because Gold and Silver are necessary trimming to denote the dress of a person of rank, and the Governor must be supposed so in foreign countries, to be admitted into Courts and other places of fair reception. But how comes Aristarchus to know by sight that this Governor came from France? Why, by the laced coat.Scribl.
- ↑ Ibid. Where, Pupil, and lac'd Governor] Some Critics have objected to the order here, being of opinion that the Governor should have the precedence before the Whore, if not before the Pupil. But were he so placed, it might be thought to insinuate that the Governor led the Pupil to the Whore: and were the Pupil placed first, he might be supposed to lead the Governor to her. But our impartial Poet, as he is drawing their Picture, represents them in the order in which they are generally seen; namely, the Pupil between the Whore and the Governor; but placeth the Whore first, as she usually governs both the other.
