Alexander Pope(1688–1744)
[The Triumph of Dulness]
[The Triumphof Dulness]4
In vain, in vain,—the all-composing hour
Resistless 0 falls: the Muse obeys the power.irresistibly
She 5 comes! she comes! the sable 0 throne beholdblack
Of Night primeval, and of Chaos old!6
Before her, Fancy's gilded clouds decay,
And all its varying rainbows die away.
Wit shoots in vain its momentary fires,
T h e meteor drops, and in a flash expires.
As o n e by one, at dread Medea's strain,
T h e sickening stars fade off the ethereal plain;7
As Argus' eyes by Hermes' wand oppressed,
Closed one by o n e to everlasting rest;8
T h u s at her felt approach, and secret might,
Art after Art goes out, and all is night.
See skulking Truth to her old cavern fled,9
Mountains of casuistry1 heaped o'er her head!
Philosophy, that leaned on Heaven before,
Shrinks to her s e c o n d cause,2 and is no more.
Physic 0 of Metaphysic begs defense,natural science
And Metaphysic calls for aid on Sense!
See Mystery 0 to Mathematics fly!mystical knowledge
In vain! they gaze, turn giddy, rave, and die.
Religion blushing veils her sacred fires,
And unawares Morality expires.
Nor public flame, nor private, dares to shine;
Nor h u m a n spark is left, nor glimpse divine!
Lo! thy dread empire, C h a o s is restored;
Light dies before thy uncreating word:3
Thy hand, great Anarch! lets the curtain fall;
And universal darkness buries all.
1721-251747