Book II.
The Dunciad.
95
One on his manly confidence relies,
One on his vigour[I 1] and superior size. 170
First Osborne lean'd against his letter'd post;
It rose, and labour'd to a curve at most.
So Jove's bright bow displays its wat'ry round,
(Sure sign,[I 2] that no spectator shall be drown'd)
A second effort brought but new disgrace, 155
The wild Meander wash'd the Artist's face:
Thus the small jett, which hasty hands unlock,
Spirts in the gard'ner's eyes who turns the cock.
Not so from shameless Curl; impetuous spread
The stream, and smoking flourish'd o'er his head. 180
So (fam'd like thee for turbulence and horns)
Eridanus[I 3] his humble fountain scorns;
Imitations
- ↑ Ver. 169, 170. One on his many confidence relies,
One on his vigour]Ille-melior motu, fretusque juventa;
Hic membris & mole valens.Virg. Æn. v. - ↑ Ver. 173, 174. So Jove's bright bow
(Sure sign———The words of Homer, of the Rain-bow, in Iliad xi.
———ἅς τε Κρονίων
Ἐν νέφεϊ ϛήριξε, τέρας μερόπων ἀνθρώπων.Que le fils de Saturn a fondez dans les nües, pour être dans tous les àges une signe à tout les mortels.Dacier. - ↑ Ver. 181, 182. So (fam'd like thee for turbulence and horns.]
Eridanus]Virgil mentions these two qualifications of Eridanus, Georg. iv.
