Page:The Dunciad - Alexander Pope (1743).djvu/180

Now Bavius take the poppy from thy brow,
And place it here! here all ye Heroes bow!
This, this is he, foretold by ancient rhymes:
320 Th' Augustus born to bring Saturnian times.^{[I 1]}
Signs following signs lead on the mighty year!
See the dull stars roll round and re-appear.
See, see, our own true Phœbus wears the bays!
Our Midas sits Lord Chancellor of Plays!
325 On Poets Tombs see Benson's titles writ!^{[R 1]}
Lo! Ambrose Philips^{[R 2]} is prefer'd for Wit!

Remarks

1. Ver. 325. On Ports Tombs see Benson's titles writ;] W———m Benson (Surveyor of the Buildings to his Majesty King George I.) gave in a report to the Lords, that their House and the Painted chamber adjoining were in immediate danger of falling. Whereupon the Lords met in a committee to appoint some other place to sit in, while the house should be taken down. But it being proposed to cause some other builders first to inspect it, they found it in very good condition. The Lords, upon this, were going upon an address to the King against Benson, for such a misrepresentation; but the Earl of Sunderland, then secretary, gave them an assurance that his Majesty would remove him, which was done accordingly. In favour of this man, the famous Sir Christopher Wren, who had been Architect to the crown for above fifty years, who built most of the Churches in London, laid the first stone of St. Paul's, and lived to finish it, had been displac'd from his employment at the age of near ninety years.
2. Ver. 326. Ambrose Philips] He was (saith Mr. Jacob) "one of the wits at

Imitations

1. Ver. 319, 320. This, this is he, foretold by ancient rhymes,
   Th' Augustus, &c.]
   Hic vir, hic est! tibi quem promitti sæpius audis,
   Augustus Cæsar, divum genus; aurea condet
   Secula qui rursus Latio, regnata per arva
   Saturno quondam ———Virg. Æn. vi.
   
   
   Saturnian here relates to the age of Lead, mentioned book I. ver. 26.