THE DUNCIA D. BOOK the THIRD. ARGUMENT. AFTER the other perfons are difpofed in their proper places of reft, the Goddess transports the King to her Temple, and there lays him to flumber with his head on her lap; a pofition of marvellous virtue, which caufeth all the Vifions of wild enthufiafts, projectors, politicians, inamoratos, caftle-builders, chemifts, and poets. He is immediately carried on the wings of Fancy, and led by a mad Poetical Sibyl, to the Elysian shade; where, on the banks of Lethe, the fouls of the dull are dipped by Bavius, before their entrance into this world. There he is met by the ghoft of Settle, and by him made acquainted with the wonders of the place, and with those which he himself is deftined to perform. He takes him to a Mount of Vifion, from whence he shews him the past triumphs of the Empire of Dulness, then the prefent, and laftly the future; how small a part of the world was ever conquered by Science, how foon thofe conquefts were ftopped, and those very nations again reduced to her dominion. Then diftinguishing the Island of Great Britain, Thews by what aids, by what persons, and by what de grees grees it fhould be brought to her Empire. Some of the perfons he causes to pafs in review before his eyes, defcribing each by his proper figure, character, and qualifications. On a fudden the Scene fhifts, and a vaft number of miracles and prodigies appear, utterly furprizing and unknown to the King himself, 'till they are explained to be the wonders of his own reign now commencing. On this fubject Settle breaks into a congratulation, yet not unmixed with concern, that his own times were but the types of these. He prophefies how first the nation fhall be over-run with Farces, Operas, and Shows; how the Throne of Dulness shall be advanced over the Theatres, and fet up even at Court: then how her Sons fhall prefide in the feats of Arts and Sciences: giving a glympfe, or Pisgah-fight of the future Fulness of her Glory, the accomplishment whereof is the fubject of the fourth and laft book. DOOK |
