Remarks.
- ↑ Ver. 517, his Cup,—Which whoso tastes, &c.] The Cup of Self-love, which causes a total oblivion of the obligations of Friendship, or Honour, and of the Service of God or our Country; all sacrificed to Vain-glory, Court-worship, or yet meaner considerations of Lucre and brutal Pleasures. From ver. 520 to 528.
- ↑ Ver. 523, 524. Lost is his God, his
his qualification and claim to a participation, the High-Priest of Dulness first initiateth the Assembly by the usual way of Libation. And then each of the Initiated, as was always required, putteth on a new Nature, described from ver. 518 to 529. When the High-Priest and Goddess have thus done their parts, each of them is delivered into the hands of his Conductor, an inferior Minister or Hierophant, whose names are Impudence, Stupefaction, Self-conceit, Self-interest, Pleasure, Epicurism, &c. to lead them thro' the several apartments of her Mystic Dome or Palace. When all this is over, the sovereign Goddess, from ver. 565 to 600 conferreth her Titles and Degrees; rewards inseparably attendant on the participation of the Mysteries; which made the ancient Theon say of them—καλλιςα μλυ ουν, και τ μεγιςων αγαθων, το Μυςηειων μετεχειν. Hence being enriched with so many various Gifts and Graces, Initiation into the Mysteries was anciently, as well as in these our times, esteemed a necessary qualification for every high office and employment, whether in Church or State. Lastly the great Mother shutteth up the Solemnity with her gracious benediction, which concludeth in drawing the Curtain, and laying all her Children to rest. It is to be observed that Dulness, before this her Restoration, had her Pontiffs in Partibus; who from time to time held her Mysteries in secret, and with great privacy. But now, on her Re-establishment, she celebrateth them, like those of the Cretans (the most ancient of all Mysteries) in open day, and offereth them to the inspection of all men. Scribl.
Imitations.
- ↑ Ver. 518. Which whoso tastes, forgets his former friends,—Sire, &c.] Homer of the Nepenthe, Odyss. 4.Αυτικ αρ εις οινον βαλε φαρμακον, ενθεν επινον
Νηπενθες τ αχολον τε, κακων δπιληθον απαντων.
