Death shall entomb in Dust this mould’ring Frame,mould’ring Frame: the body returning to dust.
But never reach th’ eternal Part—my Fame.
When W*W*: Edward (Ned) Ward (1667–1731), Tory author of
The London Spy (1698–1700), a “Grubstreet” author whose low subject matter
would place him among Alexander Pope’s dunces in The Dunciad (1729). Pope’s
treatment of Ward is gentler than his critiques of others: characterizing the island of Jamaica in
Ward’s A Trip to Jamaica as “ape and monkey lands,” Pope glosses the
reference: “Edward Ward, a very voluminous poet in hudibrastick verse, but best known by the
London Spy, in prose. He has of late years kept a publick house in the City (but in a genteel
way) and with his wit, humour, and good liquor (Ale) afforded his guests a pleasurable entertainment,
especially those of the high church party.” (Ward objected, saying that he served wine and that his
public house was not in the City of London, which was associated with Whiggish interests).
and G**,G**: Charles Gildon (1665–1724), author of A New Rehearsal (1714), another
“Grubstreet” author featured by Pope in The Dunciad: “Charles Gildon, a
writer of criticisms and libels of the last age, ... signaliz’d himself as a critic, having written
some very bad plays; abused Mr. P[ope]. very scandalously in an anonymous pamphlet of the Life of Mr.
Wycherley printed by Curl, in another called the New Rehearsal printed in 1714, in a third
entitled the Compleat Art of English Poetry in 2 volumes, and others. mighty Names, are dead;
Or but at
Chelsea, under Custards read;Chelsea, under Custards read: the village of Chelsea, a short distance to the west of London, was
famous for its baked goods. Ironic: Gay refers to a future time when the great works of these authors will
be read only when their pages are used to wrap desserts for sale.
When Criticks crazy Bandboxes repair,When Criticks crazy Bandboxes repair: when critics consider their books so inconsequential that
they rip out the pages to repair broken bandboxes.
And Tragedies, turn’d Rockets,Tragedies, turn’d Rockets: great works are used to ignite fireworks.
bounce in Air;
High-rais’d on Fleetstreet Posts,Fleetstreet Posts: the doorposts of booksellers' shops, decorated with the title pages of books
for sale.
consign’d to Fame,
This Work shall shine, and Walkers bless my Name.
INDEX.
- AUthor, for whom he wrote the Poem, p. 8
- Asses their Arrogance, p. 22
- Ariadne’s Clue, p. 26
- Alley, the Pleasure of Walking in one, p. 30
- Almanacks, useless to judicious Walkers, p. 39
- Autumn, what Cries then in use, p. 41
- Arundel-street, p. 44
- Author, his Wish, p. 52
- Alley, not to be walk’d in by Night, p. 61
G
B. Bavaroy,