Page:The Dunciad - Alexander Pope (1743).djvu/232

565 Next bidding all draw near on bended knees,
The Queen confers her Titles and Degrees.
Her children first of more distinguish'd sort,
Who study Shakespeare at the Inns of Court,
Impale a Glow-worm, or Vertù profess,
570 Shine in the dignity of F. R. S.
Some, deep Free-Masons, join the silent race^{[R 1]}
Worthy to fill Pythagoras's place:
Some Botanists, or Florists at the least,
Or issue Members of an Annual feast.
575 Nor past the meanest unregarded, one
Rose a Gregorian, one a Gormogon.^{[R 2]}
The last, not least in honour or applause,
Isis and Cam made Doctors of her Laws.
Then blessing all, Go Children of my care!
580 To Practice now from Theory repair.
All my commands are easy, short, and full:
My Sons! be proud, be selfish, and be dull.^{[R 3]}

Remarks.

1. Ver. 571. Some, deep Free-Masons, join the silent race] The Poet all along expresses a very particular concern for this silent Race: He has here provided, that in case they will not waken or open (as was before proposed) to a Humming Bird or Cockle, yet at worst they may be made Free-Masons; where Taciturnity is the only essential Qualification, as it was the chief of the disciples of Pythagoras.
2. Ver. 576. a Gregorian, one a Gormegon.] A sort of Lay-brothers, Slips from the Root of the Free-Masons.
3. Ver. 581. All my commands are easy, short, and full:
   My Sons be proud, be selfish, and be dull.]
   We should be unjust to the reign of Dulness not to confess that her's has one advantage in it rarely to be met with in Modern Governments, which is, that the