190
The Dunciad.
Book IV.
My sons! (she answer'd) both have done your parts:
Live happy both, and long promote our arts.
But hear a Mother, when she recommends
440 To your fraternal care, our sleeping friends.[R 1]
The common Soul, of Heav'n's more frugal make,
Serves but to keep fools pert, and knaves awake:
A drowzy Watchman, that just gives a knock,
And breaks our rest, to tell us what's a clock.
445 Yet by some object ev'ry brain is stirr'd;
The dull may waken to a Humming-bird;
The most recluse, discreetly open'd, find
Congenial matter in the Cockle-kind;
The mind, in Metaphysics at a loss,
450 May wander in a wilderness of Moss;[R 2]
The head that turns at super-lunar things,
Poiz'd with a tail, may steer on Wilkins' wings.[R 3]
O! would the Sons of Men once think their Eyes[R 4]
And Reason giv'n them but to study Flies!
Live happy both, and long promote our arts.
But hear a Mother, when she recommends
440 To your fraternal care, our sleeping friends.[R 1]
The common Soul, of Heav'n's more frugal make,
Serves but to keep fools pert, and knaves awake:
A drowzy Watchman, that just gives a knock,
And breaks our rest, to tell us what's a clock.
445 Yet by some object ev'ry brain is stirr'd;
The dull may waken to a Humming-bird;
The most recluse, discreetly open'd, find
Congenial matter in the Cockle-kind;
The mind, in Metaphysics at a loss,
450 May wander in a wilderness of Moss;[R 2]
The head that turns at super-lunar things,
Poiz'd with a tail, may steer on Wilkins' wings.[R 3]
O! would the Sons of Men once think their Eyes[R 4]
And Reason giv'n them but to study Flies!
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 440. our sleeping friends.] Of whom see ver. 345 above.
- ↑ Ver. 450. a wilderness of Moss;] Of which the Naturalists count I can't tell how many hundred species.
- ↑ Ver. 452. Wilkins' wings.] One of the first Projectors of the Royal Society, who, among many enlarged and useful notions, entertain'd the extravagant hope of a possibility to fly to the Moon; which has put some volatile Genius's upon making wings for that purpose.
- ↑ Ver. 453. O! would the Sons of men, &c.] This is the third speech of the Goddess to her Supplicants, and completes the whole of what she had to give in instruction on this important occasion, concerning Learning, Civil Society, and Religion. In the first speech, ver. 119, to her Editors and conceited Critics, she directs how to deprave Wit and discredit fine Writers. In her second, ver. 175,
