Book III.
The Dunciad.
121
BUT in her Temple's last recess inclos'd,
On Dulness' lap th' Anointed head repos'd.
Him close she curtains round with Vapours blue,
And soft besprinkles with Cimmerian dew.
5 Then raptures high the seat of Sense o'erflow,
Which only heads refin'd from Reason know.[R 1]
Hence, from the straw where Bedlam's Prophet nods,
He hears loud Oracles, and talks with Gods:[I 1]
Hence the Fool's Paradise, the Statesman's Scheme,
10 The air-built Castle, and the golden Dream,
The Maid's romantic wish, the Chemist's flame,
And Poet's vision of eternal Fame.
And now, on Fancy's easy wing convey'd,
The King descending, views th' Elysian Shade.
On Dulness' lap th' Anointed head repos'd.
Him close she curtains round with Vapours blue,
And soft besprinkles with Cimmerian dew.
5 Then raptures high the seat of Sense o'erflow,
Which only heads refin'd from Reason know.[R 1]
Hence, from the straw where Bedlam's Prophet nods,
He hears loud Oracles, and talks with Gods:[I 1]
Hence the Fool's Paradise, the Statesman's Scheme,
10 The air-built Castle, and the golden Dream,
The Maid's romantic wish, the Chemist's flame,
And Poet's vision of eternal Fame.
And now, on Fancy's easy wing convey'd,
The King descending, views th' Elysian Shade.
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 5, 6, &c. Hereby is intimated that the following Vision is no more than the chimera of the dreamer's brain, and not a real or intended satyr on the present Age, doubtless more learned, more enlightened, and more abounding with great Genius's in Divinity, Politics, and whatever arts and sciences, than all the preceding. For fear of any such mistake of our Poet's honest meaning, he hath again at the end of the Vision repeated this monition, saying that it all past through the Ivory gate, which (according to the Ancients) denoteth Falsity. Scribl.
How much the good Scriblerus was mistaken, may be seen from the Fourth book, which, it is plain from hence, he had never seen. Bent.
Imitations
- ↑ Ver. 7, 8.Hence from the straw where Bedlam's Prophet nods,
He hears loud Oracles, and talks with Gods:]
Et varias audit voces, fruiturque deorum
Colloquio ———Virg. Æn. viii.
