Book VI.
The Dunciad.
159
Now to pure Space[R 1] lifts her extatic stare,
Now running round the Circle, finds it square.[R 2]
35 But held in ten-fold bonds the Muses lie,
Watch'd both by Envy's and by Flatt'ry's eye:[R 3]
There to her heart sad Tragedy addrest
The dagger wont to pierce the Tyrant's breast;
But sober History[R 4] restrain'd her rage,
40 And promis'd Vengeance on a barb'rous age.
There sunk Thalia, nerveless, cold, and dead,
Had not her Sister Satyr held her head:
Now running round the Circle, finds it square.[R 2]
35 But held in ten-fold bonds the Muses lie,
Watch'd both by Envy's and by Flatt'ry's eye:[R 3]
There to her heart sad Tragedy addrest
The dagger wont to pierce the Tyrant's breast;
But sober History[R 4] restrain'd her rage,
40 And promis'd Vengeance on a barb'rous age.
There sunk Thalia, nerveless, cold, and dead,
Had not her Sister Satyr held her head:
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 33. pure Space] i. e. pure and defæcated from Matter.—extatic Stare, the action of men who look about with full assurance of seeing what does not exist, such as those who expect to find Space a real being.
- ↑ Ver. 34. running round the Circle, finds it square.] Regards the wild and fruitless attempts of squaring the Circle.
- ↑ Ver. 36. Watch'd both by Envy's and by Flatt'ry's eye:] One of the misfortunes falling on Authors, from the Act for subjecting Plays to the power of a Licenser, being the false representations to which they were expos'd, from such as either gratify'd their Envy to Merit, or made their Court to Greatness, by perverting general Reflections against Vice into Libels on particular Persons.
- ↑ Ver. 39. But sober History] History attends on Tragedy, Satyr on Comedy, as their substitutes in the discharge of their distinct functions: the one in high life, recording the crimes and punishments of the great; the other in low, exposing the vices or follies of the common people. But it may be asked, How came History and Satyr to be admitted with impunity to minister comfort to the Muses, even in the presence of the Goddess, and in the midst of all her triumphs? A question, says Scriblerus, which we thus resolve: History was brought up in her infancy by Dulness herself; but being afterwards espoused into a noble house, she forgot (as is usual) the humility of her birth, and the cares of her early friends. This occasioned a long estrangement between her and Dulness. At length, in process of time, they met together in a Monk's Cell, were reconciled, and be came better friends than ever. After this they had a second quarrel, but it held not long, and are now again on reasonable terms, and so are like to continue. This accounts for the connivance shewn to History on this occasion. But the boldness of Satyr springs from a very different cause; for the reader ought to know, that she alone of all the sisters is unconquerable, never to be silenced, when truly inspired and animated (as should seem)
