160
The Dunciad.
Book IV.
Nor cou'd'st thou, Chesterfield! a tear refuse,[R 1]
Thou wept'st, and with thee wept each gentle Muse.
45 When lo! a Harlot form soft sliding by,[R 2]
With mincing step, small voice, and languid eye;
Foreign her air, her robe's discordant pride
In patch-work flutt'ring, and her head aside:
By singing Peers up-held on either hand,
50 She tripp'd and laugh'd, too pretty much to stand;
Cast on the prostrate Nine a scornful look,
Then thus in quaint Recitativo spoke.
O Cara! Cara! silence all that train:
Joy to great Chaos! let Division reign:[R 3]
Thou wept'st, and with thee wept each gentle Muse.
45 When lo! a Harlot form soft sliding by,[R 2]
With mincing step, small voice, and languid eye;
Foreign her air, her robe's discordant pride
In patch-work flutt'ring, and her head aside:
By singing Peers up-held on either hand,
50 She tripp'd and laugh'd, too pretty much to stand;
Cast on the prostrate Nine a scornful look,
Then thus in quaint Recitativo spoke.
O Cara! Cara! silence all that train:
Joy to great Chaos! let Division reign:[R 3]
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 43. Nor cou'd'st thou, &c.] This Noble Person in the year 1737, when the Act aforesaid was brought into the House of Lords, opposed it in an excellent speech (says Mr. Cibber), "with a lively spirit, and uncommon eloquence." This speech had the honour to be answered by the said Mr. Cibber, with a a lively spirit also, and in a manner very uncommon, in the 8th Chapter of his Life and Manners. And here, gentle Reader, would I gladly insert the other speech, whereby thou mightest judge between them: but I must defer it on account of some differences not yet adjusted between the noble Author and myself, concerning the True Reading of certain Scribl.
- ↑ Ver. 45. When lo! a Harlot form] The Attitude given to this Phantom represents the nature and genius of the Italian Opera; its affected airs, its effeminate sounds, and the practice of patching up these Operas with favourite Songs, in coherently put together. These things were supported by the subscriptions of the Nobility. This circumstance that Opera should prepare for the opening of the grand Sessions, was prophesied of in Book 3. ver. 304.Already Opera prepares the way,
The sure fore-runner of her gentle sway. - ↑ Ver. 54. let Division reign:] Alluding to the false taste of playing tricks in Music with numberless divisions, to the neglect of that harmony which conforms
from above, for this very purpose, to oppose the kingdom of Dulness to her last breath.
