The Dunciad

The third book takes the form of a vision Cibber has in Dulness’s Temple. As he lays his head in Dulness’s lap, Cibber dreams that he descends to the underworld. He sees new souls being dipped into the River Lethe to ensure their dullness in life, and he notices several Dunces who are now deceased. Eventually he is met by the ghost of Elkanah Settle, his predecessor.

Settle first shows Cibber a vision of the past, wherein Dulness’s darkness quickly follows wherever the light of knowledge and progress spreads. Settle cites several groups who have worked to spread ignorance for Dulness, including the Goths, the Huns, and even the church in Rome. While he laments that the island of Britain is not as strongly under her influence as it once was, he describes for Cibber all the devotees working hard in the present to return it to its former glory.

In quick succession, Settle names dozens of Dunces, both specific individuals and general types. He mentions several fields in which Dulness’s agents are making great progress for her, including poetry, political writing, criticism, science, drama, and academics.

Before moving on to visions of the future, Settle offers a word of warning.