Book I.
The Dunciad.
57
135 The rest on Out-side merit but presume,[R. 1]
Or serve (like other Fools) to fill a room;
Such with their shelves as due proportion hold,
Or their fond Parents drest in red and gold;
Or where the pictures for the page attone,
140 And Quarles is sav'd by Beauties not his own.
Here swells the shelf with Ogilby the great;[R. 2]
There, stamp'd with arms, Newcastle shines complete:[R. 3]
Here all his suff'ring brotherhood retire,
And 'scape the martyrdom of jakes and fire:
145 A Gothic Library! of Greece and Rome
Well purg'd, and worthy Settle, Banks, and Broome.[R. 4]
Or serve (like other Fools) to fill a room;
Such with their shelves as due proportion hold,
Or their fond Parents drest in red and gold;
Or where the pictures for the page attone,
140 And Quarles is sav'd by Beauties not his own.
Here swells the shelf with Ogilby the great;[R. 2]
There, stamp'd with arms, Newcastle shines complete:[R. 3]
Here all his suff'ring brotherhood retire,
And 'scape the martyrdom of jakes and fire:
145 A Gothic Library! of Greece and Rome
Well purg'd, and worthy Settle, Banks, and Broome.[R. 4]
Remarks
- ↑ Ver. 135. The rest on Out-side merit, &c.] This Library is divided into three parts; the first consists of those authors from whom he stole, and whose works he mangled; the second, of such as fitted the shelves, or were gilded for shew, or adorned with pictures; the third class our author calls solid learning, old bodies of Divinity, old Commentaries, old English Printers, or old English Translations; all very voluminous, and fit to erect altars to Dulness.
- ↑ Ver. 141. Ogilby the great;] "John Ogilby was one, who, from a late initiation into literature, made such a progress as might well style him the prodigy of his time! sending into the world so many large Volumes! His translations of Homer and Virgil done to the life, and with such excellent sculptures!" And (what added great grace to his works) "he printed them all on special good paper, and in a very good letter." Winstanly, Lives of Poets.
- ↑ Ver. 142. There, stamp'd with arms, Newcastle shines complete:] "The Duchess of Newcastle was one who busied herself in the ravishing delights of Poetry; leaving to posterity in print three ample Volumes of her studious endeavours." Winstanly, ibid. Langbaine reckons up eight Folios of her Grace's; which were usually adorned with gilded covers, and had her coat of arms upon them.
- ↑ Ver. 146. Worthy Settle, Banks, and Broome.] The Poet has mentioned these three authors in particular, as they are parallel to our Hero in his three capacities: 1. Settle was his Brother Laureate; only indeed upon half-pay, for the City instead of the Court; but equally famous for unintelligible flights in his poems on public occasions, such as Shows, Birth-days, &c.
