JM: Thus Amphisbæna (I have read)/At either end assails;
/ None knows which leads, or which is led,/ For both Heads are but
Tails.
RLSGwynn: This may well be by Pope, but it cannot be from The Dunciad,
which is written in heroic couplets, not quatrains.
JM: The lines were mentioned in connection
to Pope's "On Burnet and Ducket," by Sir
Thomas Browne, in a foot-note to "Vulgar Errors III.xv: Of the
Amphisbaen," transcribed in the
internet. It seems to be part of
one of the various versions of the Dunciad, namely, the "Variorum."* That's as far as I dare proceed, if I am to keep
from repeating wiki-items like a parrot. If Nabokov, like Shade, was
familiar with Pope's works, the poisonous debates related to
homeric translations and consequent satires, may not be excluded from PF,
even if the "Amphisbaena/Wilson" link is stronger in relation to
Housman, "ancient gillette," and Wilson's essay on Housman, connected to
the word-twisters produced by Hazel ( top/pot, diaper/redips, powder, etc).
The contrasted bristlings bt. Shade and Housman, as described by
Kinbote, while the two poets are shaving and musing, seems to
be another Kinbotean invented set of
fake "oppositions."
Stan K-Bootle warned me against
over-interpretation, but Nabokov's irradiating allusions are too tempting
to resist. Keat's poem "On first looking into
Chapman's Homer," was informally introduced at least twice
(extra-textual citation needed), when Nabokov describes himself looking
like "stout Cortez." And he must
have enjoyed the opportunity to include in PF the curious "Chapman's
homer" clipping ( and Kinbote misses the irony). So, why not extend the
pleasure and open the way to encompass ancient rivalries and
enmities,associated with other known translations of Pushkin
or Homer, for example, through Conmal's toils, Sybil's or Kinbote's?
Carolyn, don't you think that the mixture bt. the characters, Shade
and Kinbote, which is outlined by what both share with
Alexander Pope ( they do seem to share certain traits or interests?),
argues in favor of your almost theological or triptychal
speculations?
..................................................................................................................................................................
* (wiki) In 1715,
Burnet and Duckett wrote Homerides, or, a letter to Mr. Pope, occasion'd by his
intended translation of Homer; by Sir Iliad Doggerl, and in 1716 they wrote
Homerides, or, Homer's First Book Moderniz'd. Pope accused them of attacking his
translation of Homer prior to anything even being written, and with some
justice, and Duckett continued the battle with An Epilogue to a Puppet Show at
Bath Concerning the same Iliad by himself. Edmund Curll, in his battle against
Pope, published the Epilogue. Pope's revenge appeared in The Dunciad of 1728,
and in particular in the Dunciad Variorum. Because of their positions in
government, Pope did not attack Duckett and Burnet by name in Dunciad itself,
and he did not directly impugn them until the Variorum. Duckett and Burnet
also funded and contributed to two weekly journals, The Grumbler and Pasquin. He
was also the patron of one of Pope's other enemies, John Oldmixon.