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80

The Dunciad.

Book II.

So like, that critics said, and courtiers swore,
A Wit it was, and call'd the phantom More.^{[R 1]}^{[R 2]} 50
All gaze with ardour: Some a poet's name,
Others a sword-knot and lac'd suit inflame.
But lofty Lintot^{[R 3]} in the circle rose:
"This prize is mine; who tempt it are my foes;

Remarks

spair at the picture, and happened to do it by that fortunate stroke.

↑ Ver. 50. and call'd the phantom More.] Curl, in his Key to the Dunciad, affirmed this to be James-More Smith esq. and it is probable (considering what is said of him in the Testimonies) that some might fancy our author obliged to represent this gentleman as a plagiary, or to pass for one himself. His case indeed was like that of a man I have heard of, who, as he was sitting in company, perceived his next neighbour had stolen his handkerchief. "Sir (said the thief, finding himself detected) do not expose me, I did it for mere want; be so good but to take it privately out of my pocket again, and say nothing." The honest man did so, but the other cry'd out, "See, gentlemen, what a thief we have among us! look, he is stealing my handkerchief!"
The plagiarisms of this person gave occasion to the following Epigram:
More always smiles whenever he recites;
He smiles (you think) approving what he writes.
And yet in this no vanity is shown;
A modest man may like what's not his own.
His only work was a Comedy called the Rival Modes; the town condemned it in the action, but he printed it in 1726/27, with this modest Motto,
Hic cæstus artemque repono.
↑ Ver. 50. the phantom More.] It appears from hence, that this is not the name of a real person, but fictitious. More from of μωροις, stultus, μωρία stultitia, to represent the folly of a plagiary. Thus Erasmus, Admonuit me Mori cognomen tibi, quod tam ad Moriæ vocabulum accedit quam es ipse a re alienus. Dedication of Moriae Encomium to Sir Tho. More; the farewell of which may be our author's to his plagiary, Vale, More! & moriam tuam gnaviter defende. Adieu, More! and be sure strongly to defend thy own folly. Scribl.
↑ Ver. 53. But lofty Lintot] We enter here upon the episode of the Booksellers: Persons, whose names being more known and famous in the learned world than those of the Authors in this poem, do therefore need less explanation. The action of Mr. Lintot here imitates that of Dares in Virgil, rising just in this

[2] Ver. 50. and call'd the phantom More.] Curl, in his Key to the Dunciad, affirmed this to be James-More Smith esq. and it is probable (considering what is said of him in the Testimonies) that some might fancy our author obliged to represent this gentleman as a plagiary, or to pass for one himself. His case indeed was like that of a man I have heard of, who, as he was sitting in company, perceived his next neighbour had stolen his handkerchief. "Sir (said the thief, finding himself detected) do not expose me, I did it for mere want; be so good but to take it privately out of my pocket again, and say nothing." The honest man did so, but the other cry'd out, "See, gentlemen, what a thief we have among us! look, he is stealing my handkerchief!"
The plagiarisms of this person gave occasion to the following Epigram:
More always smiles whenever he recites;
He smiles (you think) approving what he writes.
And yet in this no vanity is shown;
A modest man may like what's not his own.
His only work was a Comedy called the Rival Modes; the town condemned it in the action, but he printed it in 1726/27, with this modest Motto,
Hic cæstus artemque repono.

[3] Ver. 50. the phantom More.] It appears from hence, that this is not the name of a real person, but fictitious. More from of μωροις, stultus, μωρία stultitia, to represent the folly of a plagiary. Thus Erasmus, Admonuit me Mori cognomen tibi, quod tam ad Moriæ vocabulum accedit quam es ipse a re alienus. Dedication of Moriae Encomium to Sir Tho. More; the farewell of which may be our author's to his plagiary, Vale, More! & moriam tuam gnaviter defende. Adieu, More! and be sure strongly to defend thy own folly. Scribl.

[p80-4] Ver. 53. But lofty Lintot] We enter here upon the episode of the Booksellers: Persons, whose names being more known and famous in the learned world than those of the Authors in this poem, do therefore need less explanation. The action of Mr. Lintot here imitates that of Dares in Virgil, rising just in this

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