96
The Dunciad.
Book II.
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 183. Thro' half the heav'ns he pours th'exalted urn;] In a manuscript Dunciad (where are some marginal corrections of some gentlemen some time deceased) I have found another reading of these lines, thus,
And lifts his urn, thro' half the heav'ns to flow;
His rapid waters in their passage glow.
This I cannot but think the right: For first, though the difference between burn and glow may seem not very material to others, to me I confess the latter has an elegance, a je ne sçay quoy, which is much easier to be conceived than explained. Secondly, every reader of our poet must have observed how frequently he uses this word glow in other parts of his works: To instance only in his Homer:
(1.) Iliad. ix. ☆ 726.—With one resentment glows.
(2.) Iliad. xi. ☆ 626.—There the battle glows.
(3.) Ibid. ☆ 985.—The closing flesh that instant ceas'd to glow.
(4.) Iliad. xii. ☆45.—Encompass'd Hedor glows:
{5.) Ibid. ☆ 475.—His beating breast with gen'rous ardour glows.
(6.) Iliad. xviii. ☆ 591.—Another part glow'd with refulgent arms.
(7.) Ibid. ☆ 654.—And curl'd on silver props in order glow.
I am afraid of growing too luxuriant in examples, or I could stretch this catalogue to a great extent, but these are enough to prove his fondness for this beau-
Imitations
- ↑ Et gemina auratus taurino cornua vultu,
Eridanus, quo non alius per pinguia culta
In mare purpureum violentior effluit amnis.
The Poets fabled of this river Eridanus, that it flowed through the skies. Denham, Cooper's Hill:
Heav'n her Eridanus no more shall boast,
Whose fame in thine, like lesser currents lost;
Thy nobler stream shall visit Jove's abodes,
To shine among the stars, and bathe the Gods.
