For public flame, nor private, dares to shine;
Nor human spark is left, nor glimpse divine!
Lo! thy dread empire, Chaos! is restor'd;
Light dies before thy uncreating word:
Thy hand, great Anarch! lets the curtain fall;
And universal Darkness buries all.

This passage from "The Dunciad" by Alexander Pope depicts the triumph of Dulness and Chaos over enlightenment and order. In this climactic moment, a metaphorical darkness descends, extinguishing both public and private enlightenment—no inspiration remains, and divinity ceases to illuminate humanity. The imagery of Chaos reclaiming its "dread empire" suggests a return to a primordial state, where disarray reigns supreme. Pope's use of "uncreating word" underscores the destructive power of Dulness, as it obliterates light and understanding. The "hand" of the "great Anarch" symbolizes the deliberate dismantling of structure and knowledge. The final line, "universal Darkness buries all," encapsulates the poem's theme: the obliteration of wisdom and art, leaving a void where intellectual vigor once thrived. This dystopian vision serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of intellectual stagnation and cultural decay.