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,
(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.