Page:The Dunciad - Alexander Pope (1743).djvu/237

She comes! she comes! the sable Throne behold^{[R 1]}
630 Of Night Primæval, and of Chaos old!
Before her, Fancy's gilded clouds decay,
And all its varying Rain-bows die away.
Wit shoots in vain its momentary fires,
The meteor drops, and in a flash expires.
635 As one by one, at dread Medea's strain,
The sick'ning stars fade off th'ethereal plain;
As Argus' eyes by Hermes' wand opprest,^{[I 1]}
Clos'd one by one to everlasting rest;
Thus at her felt approach, and secret might,
640 Art after Art goes out, and all is Night.
See skulking Truth to her old Cavern fled,^{[R 2]}
Mountains of Casuistry heap'd o'er her head!
Philosophy, that lean'd on Heav'n before,^{[R 3]}
Shrinks to her second cause, and is no more.

Remarks.

1. Ver. 629. the sable Throne behold] The sable Thrones of Night and Chaos, here represented as advancing to extinguish the light of the Sciences, in the first place blot out the Colours of Fancy, and damp the Fire of Wit, before they proceed to their greater work.
2. Ver. 641. Truth to her old Cavern fled,] Alluding to the saying of Democritus, That Truth lay at the bottom of a deep well, from whence he had drawn her: Though Butler says, He first put her in, before he drew her out.
3. Ver. 643. Philosophy, that lean'd on

Imitations.

1. Ver. 637. As Argus eyes, &c.]
   Et quamvis sopor est oculorum parte receptus,
   Parte tamen vigilat ———
   ———Vidit Cyllenius omnes
   Succubuisse oculos, &c.Ovid, Met. 2.