Book III.
The Dunciad.
137
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 179. Behold yon Pair, &c.] One of these was Author of a weekly paper call'd The Grumbler, as the other was concerned in another call'd Pasquin, in which Mr. Pope was abused with the Duke of Buckingham and Bishop of Rochester. They also joined in a piece against his first undertaking to translate the Iliad, intitled Homerides, by Sir Iliad Doggrel, printed 1715.
Of the other works of these Gentlemen the world has heard no more, than it would of Mr. Pope's, had their united laudable endeavours discourag'd him from pursuing his studies. How few good works had ever appear'd (since men of true merit are always the least presuming) had there been always such champions to stifle them in their conception? And were it not better for the publick, that a million of monsters should come into the world, which are sure to die as soon as born, than that the Serpents should strangle one Hercules in his Cradle?C.
After many Editions of this poem, the Author thought fit to omit the names of these two persons, whose injury to him was of so old a date. In the verses he omitted, it was said that one of them had a pious passion for the other. It was a literal translation of Virgil, Nisus amore pio pueri—and there, as in the original, applied to Friendship: That between Nisus and Euryalus is allowed to make one of the most amiable Episodes in the world, and surely was never interpreted in a perverse sense. But it will astonish the reader to hear, that on no other occasion than this line, a Dedication was written to that Gentleman to induce him to think something further. "Sir, you are known to have all that affection for the beautiful part of the creation which God and Nature design'd.—Sir, you have a very fine Lady—and, Sir, you have eight very fine Children,"—&c.
be mention'd but twice, and so slightly touch'd, in this poem. But in truth he look'd upon him with some esteem, for having (more generously than all the rest) set his Name to such writings. He was also a very old man at this time. By his own account of himself in Mr. Jacob's Lives, he must have been above three score, and happily lived many years after. So that he was senior to Mr. Durfey, who hitherto of all our Poets enjoy'd the longest Bodily life.
Imitations
- ↑ Ver. 179. Behold yon Pair, in strict embraces join'd;]Virg. Æn. vi.Illæ autem paribus quas fulgere cernis in armis,
Concordes animæ———And in the fifth,Euryalus, forma insignis viridique juventa,
Nisus amore pio puri.
