Book II.
The Dunciad.
119
Why should I sing what bards the nightly Muse
Did slumb'ring visit, and convey to stews;
Who prouder march'd, with magistrates in state,
To some fam'd round-house, ever open gate!
How Henley lay inspir'd beside a sink, 425
And to mere mortals seem'd a Priest in drink:[R 1]
While others, timely, to the neighb'ring Fleet[R 2]
(Haunt of the Muses) made their safe retreat.
The End of the Second Book.
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 426. And to mere mortals seem'd a Priest in drink;] This line presents us with an excellent moral, that we are never to pass judgment merely by appearances; a lesson to all men who may happen to see a reverend Person in the like situation, not to determine too rashly: since not only the Poets frequently describe a Bard inspired in this posture,and the like) but an eminent Casuist tells us, that "if a Priest be seen in any indecent action, we ought to account it a deception of sight, or illusion of the Devil, who sometimes takes upon him the shape of holy men on purpose to cause scandal." Scribl.
(On Cam's fair bank, where Chaucer lay inspir'd,
- ↑ Ver. 427. Fleet] A prison for insolvent Debtors on the bank of the Ditch.
hired scurrilities and daily papers, to which he never set his name.
