University of Virginia Library

EPIGRAMS from THE DUNCIAD. 1729–1730.

I. [On a Translation of Æschylus.]

Alas! poor Æschylus! unlucky Dog!
Whom once a Lobster kill'd, and now a Log.

II. On James Moore Smythe.

M---re always smiles whenever he recites;
He smiles (you think) approving what he writes;
And yet in this no Vanity is shown;
A modest man may like what's not his own.

III. On Roome.

You ask why Roome diverts you with his jokes,
Yet, if he writes, is dull as other folks?
You wonder at it—This Sir is the case,
The jest is lost, unless he prints his Face.

IV. On Burnet and Ducket.

Burnet and Ducket, friends in spite,
Came hissing forth in verse;
Both were so forward, each would write,
So dull, each hung an A---
Thus Amphisbœna (I have read)
At either end assails;
None knows which leads, or which is led,
For both Heads are but Tails.

V. On Shakespeare Restored.

'Tis generous, Tibald! in thee and thy brothers,
To help us thus to read the works of others:
Never for this can just returns be shown;
For who will help us e'er to read thy own?

VI. On his Busto.

Well, Sir, suppose, the Busto's a damn'd head,
Suppose, that Pope's an Elf;
All he can say for 't is, he neither made
The Busto nor Himself.

VII. On Cibber.

In merry old England it once was a rule,
The King had his Poet, and also his Fool:
But now we're so frugal, I'd have you to know it,
That Cibber can serve both for Fool and for Poet.