172
The Dunciad.
Book IV.
195 Each staunch Polemic, stubborn as a rock,
Each fierce Logician, still expelling Locke,[R 1]
Came whip and spur, and dash'd thro' thin and thick
On German Crouzaz, and Dutch Burgersdyck.[R 2]
As many quit the streams[R 3] that murm'ring fall
200 To lull the sons of Marg'ret and Clare-hall,
Where Bentley late tempestuous wont to sport
In troubled waters, but now sleeps in Port.[R 4]
Before them march'd that awful Aristarch;
Plow'd was his front with many a deep Remark:
205 His Hat, which never vail'd to human pride,[R 5]
Walker with rev'rence took, and lay'd aside.
Each fierce Logician, still expelling Locke,[R 1]
Came whip and spur, and dash'd thro' thin and thick
On German Crouzaz, and Dutch Burgersdyck.[R 2]
As many quit the streams[R 3] that murm'ring fall
200 To lull the sons of Marg'ret and Clare-hall,
Where Bentley late tempestuous wont to sport
In troubled waters, but now sleeps in Port.[R 4]
Before them march'd that awful Aristarch;
Plow'd was his front with many a deep Remark:
205 His Hat, which never vail'd to human pride,[R 5]
Walker with rev'rence took, and lay'd aside.
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 196. still expelling Locke] In the year 1703 there was a meeting of the heads of the University of Oxford to censure Mr. Locke's Essay on Human Understanding, and to forbid the reading it. See his Letters in the last Edit.
- ↑ Ver. 198. On German Crouzaz and Dutch Burgersdyck.] There seems to be an improbability that the Doctors and Heads of Houses should ride on horseback, who of late days, being gouty or unweildy, have kept their coaches. But these are horses of great strength, and fit to carry any weight, as their German and Dutch extraction may manifest; and very famous we may conclude, being honour'd with Names, as were the horses Pegasus and Bucephalus. Scribl.
- ↑ Ver. 199. the streams] The River Cam, running by the walls of these Colleges, which are particularly famous for their skill in Disputation.
- ↑ Ver. 202. sleeps in Port.] viz. "now retired into harbour, after the tempest that had long agitated his society." So Scriblerus. But the learned Scipio Maffei understands it of a certain Wine called Port, from Operto a city of Portugal, of which this Professor invited him to drink abundantly. Scip. Maff. de Compotationibus Academicis.
- ↑ Ver. 205. His Hat, &c.—So upright Quakers please both Man and God.] The Hat-worship, as the Quakers call it, is an abomination to that sect: yet, where it is necessary to pay that respect to man (as in the Courts of Justice and Houses of Parliament) they have, to avoid offence, and yet not violate their conscience, permitted other people to uncover them.
