Enough! enough! the raptur'd Monarch cries! And through the iv'ry gate the vision flies. IMITATIONS. v. 340. And through the iv'ry gate, &c.] 340 210 Virg. An. VI. ADVERTISEMENT To the first edition of the Fourth Book of the Dunciad, when printed separately in the year 1742. We apprehend, it can be deemed no injury to the Author of the three first Books of. the Dunciad, that we publish this Fourth it was found, merely by accident, in taking a survey of the li brary of a late eminent nobleman; but in so blot ted a condition, and in so many detached pieces, as plainly shewed it to be not only incorrect, but unfinished. That the Author of the three first Books had a design to extend and complete his Poem in this manner, appears from the dissertation prefixed to it, where it is said, that The design is more extensive, and that we may expect other episodes to complete it:' and, from the declaration in the argument to the third Book, that 'The accomplishment of the prophecies therein, would be the theme hereafter of a greater Dunciad.' But whether or no he be the author of this, we declare ourselves ignorant. If he be, we are no more to be blamed for the publication of it, than Tucca and Varius for that of the last six Books of the Aneid, though, perhaps, inferior to the former, If any person be possessed of a more perfect copy of this work, or of any other fragments of it, and will communicate them to the publisher, we shall make the next edition more complete: in which we also promise to insert any Criticisms that shall be published (if at all to the purpose) with the names of the authors; or any letters sent us (though not to the purpose) shall yet be printed, under the title of, Epistola obscurorum virorum; which, together with some others of the same kind, formerly laid by for that end, may make no unpleasant addition to he future Impressions of this Poem. TO DR. JONATHAN SWIFT. BOOK IV. The Argument. The Poet being, in this Book to declare the completion of the Prophecies mentioned at the end of the former, makes a new Invocation; as the greater poets are wont, when some high and worthy matter is to be sung. He shews the Goddess coming in her Majesty, to destroy Order and Science, and to substitute the kingdom of the Dull upon earth. How she leads captive the sciences, and silences the Muses; and what they be who succeed in their stead. All her children, by a wonder ful attraction, are drawn about her; and bear along with them divers others, who promote her empire by connivance, weak resistance, or discouragement of arts; such as half-wits, tasteless admirers, vain pretenders, the flatterers of dunces, or the patrons of them. All these crowd arouud her; one of them offering to approach her, is driven back by a rival, but she commends and encourages both. The first who speak in form are the Geniuses of the Schools, who assure her of their care to advance her cause by confining youth to Words, and keeping them out of the way of real Knowledge. Their address, and her gracious answer; with her charge to them and the Universities. The Universities appear by their proper depu ties, and assure her, that the same method is observed in the progress of education. The speech of Aristarchus on this subject. They are driven off by a band of young gentlemen returned from Travel with the Tutors; one of whom delivers to the Goddess, in a polite oration, an account of the whole conduct and fruits of their Travels, presenting to her at the same time a young nobleman perfectly accomplished. She receives him graciousiy, and endues him with the happy quality of want of Shame. She sees loitering about her a number of indolent ziness; to these approaches the antiquary Annius, intreating Persons abandoning all business, and duty, and dying with laher to make them Virtuosos, and assign them over to him; but Mummius, another antiquary, complaining of his fraudu lent proceeding, she finds a method to reconcile their difference. Then enter a troop of people fantastically adorned, offering her strange and exotic presents: amongst them, one stands forth and demands justice on another, who had deprived him of one of the greatest curiosities in Nature; but he justifies himself so well, that the Goddess gives them both her appro bation. She recommends to them to find proper employment for the Indolents before mentioned, in the study of Butterflies, Sheils, Birds-nests, Moss, &c. but with particular caution not to proceed beyond Trifles, to any useful or extensive views of Nature, or of the Author of Nature. Against the last of these apprehensions she is secured by a hearty address from the Mis nute Philosophers and Free-thinkers, one of whom speaks in the name of the rest. The youth thus instructed and principled, are delivered to her in a body, by the hands of Silenus: and then admitted to taste the cup of the Magus her high priest, which causes a total oblivion of all obligations, divine, civil, moral, or rational. To these her adepts she sends Priests, Attendants, and Comforters, of various kinds; confers on them Orders, and Degrees; and then dismissing them with a speech, confirming to each his Privileges, and telling what she expects from each, concludes with a Yawn of extraordinary virtue; the progress and effect whereof on all orders of men, and the consummation of all, in the restoration of Night and Chaos, conclude the Poem. Y ET, yet a moment, one dim ray of light REMARKS. 5 10 v. 2....dread Chaos and eternal Night!] Invoked, as the restoration of their empire is the action of the Poem, |