Remarks.
heathenishly it is declar’d by Virgil of Bavius, that he ought to be hated and detested for his evil works; Qui Bavium non odit; whereas we have often had occasion to observe our Poet’s great good nature and mercifulness, thro’ the whole course of this poem.
Mr. Dennis warmly contends that Bavius was no inconsiderable author; nay, that he and Maevius had (even in Augustus’s days) a very formidable Party at Rome, who thought them much superior to Virgil and Horace:
For (saith he) I cannot believe they would have fixed that eternal brand upon them, if they had not been coxcombs in more than ordinary credit.
Rem. on Pr. Arthur, part 2. c. 1. (An argument which if this Poem should last, will conduce to the honour of the Gentlemen of the Dunciad.) In like manner he tells us of Settle, that he was once a formidable Rival to Mr. Dryden, and that in the University of Cambridge there were those who gave him the preference.
Mr. Welsted goes yet farther in his behalf. Poor Settle was formerly the Mighty Rival of Dryden: nay, for many years, bore his reputation above him.
Pref. to his Poems, 8vo. p. 51.] And Mr. Milbourn cried out, How little was Dryden able, even when his blood run high, to defend himself against Mr. Settle!
Notes on Dryd. Virg. p. 175. These are comfortable opinions! and no wonder some authors indulge them. Scriblerus.
V. 20. Brown and Mears.
] Booksellers, Printers for Tibbald, Mrs. Haywood, or any body.―――The
Imitations.
V. 20. Unbar the gates of Light.
] Milton.
Remarks.
Allegory of the souls of the dull coming forth in the form of books, drest in calve’s leather, and being let abroad in vast numbers by Booksellers, is sufficiently intelligible.
V. 26. Ward in Pillory.
] John Ward of Hackney, Esq; Member of Parliament, being convicted of Forgery, was first expelled the House, and then sentenc’d to the Pillory on the 17th of Febr. 1727. Mr. Curl (having likewise stood there) looks upon the mention of such a Gentleman in a satire, as a great act of Barbarity, Key to the Dunc. 3d Edit. p. 16. And another Author thus reasons upon it. Durgen, 8vo. pag. 11, 12. How unworthy is it of Christian Charity to animate the rabble to abuse a worthy man in such a situation? What could move the Poet thus to mention a brave Sufferer, a gallant Prisoner, exposed to the view of all mankind! It was laying aside his Senses, it was committing a Crime for which the Law is deficient not to punish him! nay a Crime which Man can scarce forgive, nor Time efface! Nothing surely could have induced him to it but being bribed by a great Lady,
(to whom this brave, honest, worthy
Imitations.
V. 23.
Millions and millions—Thick as the stars
, &c.] Virg. 6.
Quam multa in sylvis autumni frigore primo Lapsa cadunt folia, aut ad terram gurgite ab alto Quam multae glomerantur aves, &c.