Page:The Dunciad - Alexander Pope (1743).djvu/226

While thro' Poetic scenes the Genius roves,
490 Or wanders wild in Academic Groves;^{[R 1]}
That Nature our Society adores,
Where Tindal dictates, and Silenus^{[R 2]} snores.
 Rous'd at his name, up rose the bowzy Sire,
And shook from out his Pipe the seeds of fire;^{[R 3]}
495 Then snapt his box, and strok'd his belly down:
Rosy and rev'rend, tho' without a Gown.
Bland and familiar to the throne he came,
Led up the Youth, and call'd the Goddess Dame.
Then thus. From Priest-craft happily set free,
500 Lo! ev'ry finish'd Son returns to thee:^{[R 4]}

Remarks.

1. Ver. 489. roves,– Or wanders wild in Academic Groves.] "Above all things I lov'd Ease, and of all Philosophers those who reason'd most at their Ease, and were never angry or disturb'd, as those call'd Sceptics never were. I look'd upon this kind of Philosophy as the prettiest, agreeablest, roving Exercise of the Mind, possible to be imagined." Vol. 2. p. 206.
2. Ver. 492. Silenus] Silenus was an Epicurean Philosopher, as appears from Virgil, Eclog. 6 . where he sings the Principles of that Philosophy in his drink.
3. Ver. 494. seeds of Fire;] The Epicurean language, Semina rerum, or Atoms. Virg. Eclog. 6. Semina ignis—semina flammæ—
4. Ver. 499, 500.–From Priest-craft happily set free,
   Lo! ev'ry finish'd Son returns to thee:
   The learned Scriblerus is here very whimsical. It would seem, says he, by this, as if the Priests (who are always plotting and contriving mischief against the Law of Nature) had inveigled these harm less Youths from the bosom of their Mother, and kept them in open Rebellion to her, till Silenus broke the charm, and restored them to her indulgent arms. But this is so singular a fancy, and at the same time so unsupported by proof, that we must in justice acquit them of all suspicions of this kind.