All rife with gladsome joy, the gather’d throng
Their leader crowd around where he may guide,
To saunter, if they will, green alleys ’mong,
Where thoughtful student, lull’d by streamlet’s glide,
Doth lonely haunt its margent banks beside,
To list sweet notes of Philomela’s lay,
Or Luna pale to watch, night’s lovely bride,
High ’bove the blue vault soar in bright array,
About her gems of stars that beautify her way.
Their leader crowd around where he may guide,
To saunter, if they will, green alleys ’mong,
Where thoughtful student, lull’d by streamlet’s glide,
Doth lonely haunt its margent banks beside,
To list sweet notes of Philomela’s lay,
Or Luna pale to watch, night’s lovely bride,
High ’bove the blue vault soar in bright array,
About her gems of stars that beautify her way.
CLIV.
There they beheld, in deep seclusion’s walk,
Embow’ring groves beloved by sage of yore,
Th’ “Athenian Bee,” so famed for wisdom’s talk,
Who here discoursed on theme of learned lore,
From his mind’s cell of philosophic store,
Instructive heard; in that Academy
In “Dialogues” its master did outpour
From lips all bland with sweet serenity,
And words of mild appeal enforced he did apply.
Embow’ring groves beloved by sage of yore,
Th’ “Athenian Bee,” so famed for wisdom’s talk,
Who here discoursed on theme of learned lore,
From his mind’s cell of philosophic store,
Instructive heard; in that Academy
In “Dialogues” its master did outpour
From lips all bland with sweet serenity,
And words of mild appeal enforced he did apply.
CLV.
From hence they did emerge from wood’s wild glade,
As travellers eke some opening bright are shown,
Right glad to quit the forest’s gloomy shade
For Sol’s blest beam, that thro’ the welkin shone;
A brawling stream thro’ valley wended lone,
A lovely dell, I ween, with villas crowned,
That overshaded was with dark trees grown,
And mountains swelling ’bove the clouds around—
A spot of lavish grace liken to fairy ground.
As travellers eke some opening bright are shown,
Right glad to quit the forest’s gloomy shade
For Sol’s blest beam, that thro’ the welkin shone;
A brawling stream thro’ valley wended lone,
A lovely dell, I ween, with villas crowned,
That overshaded was with dark trees grown,
And mountains swelling ’bove the clouds around—
A spot of lavish grace liken to fairy ground.
CLVI.
Retreat like this did Roman eloquence
Invite his guests his charming villa view,
Whose landscape did them fully recompense,
Who hither sought and did its bounds pursue,
Where solemn groves in rich luxuriance grew;
The willow there it kiss’d the laving stream,
As low it drooped to see its image true,
Thus calm reflected in that twilight gleam,
A shady haunt, I ween, dreamt of in airy dream.
Invite his guests his charming villa view,
Whose landscape did them fully recompense,
Who hither sought and did its bounds pursue,
Where solemn groves in rich luxuriance grew;
The willow there it kiss’d the laving stream,
As low it drooped to see its image true,
Thus calm reflected in that twilight gleam,
A shady haunt, I ween, dreamt of in airy dream.
CLVII.
And there, oft heard, the roar of ocean’s waves
Fall on the ear in sullen murmurs deep;
Chafed in its fury, madly wild it raves,
Its bosom restless that can never sleep;
The screaming petrel doth its surface sweep,
With joyous wing exulting in its flight,
As far it roams, or scales the rocky steep;
On such lone sounding shore, with wild delight,
Demosthenes declaimed ’bove foaming billows might.
Fall on the ear in sullen murmurs deep;
Chafed in its fury, madly wild it raves,
Its bosom restless that can never sleep;
The screaming petrel doth its surface sweep,
With joyous wing exulting in its flight,
As far it roams, or scales the rocky steep;
On such lone sounding shore, with wild delight,
Demosthenes declaimed ’bove foaming billows might.
CLVIII.
“But yon Athenian pile our steps invite—
Sacred enclosure, where the studious mind
Doth there resort, and find therein delight
To pore o’er records, annals of mankind,
Proud names of glorious memory consigned,
Long since lone dwellers of the silent tomb,
Whose works survive, a new existence find;
Beauties, long hid, fresh burst from Time’s dark womb,
So sparkling gem illumes with sudden light the gloom.”
Sacred enclosure, where the studious mind
Doth there resort, and find therein delight
To pore o’er records, annals of mankind,
Proud names of glorious memory consigned,
Long since lone dwellers of the silent tomb,
Whose works survive, a new existence find;
Beauties, long hid, fresh burst from Time’s dark womb,
So sparkling gem illumes with sudden light the gloom.”
CLIX.
So spake their guide with glow of ardent love,
For he whiloime had passed a winsome hour
Of dear delight, the studious soul can prove
Who oft hath felt its soft bewitching pow’r;
When syren poesy’s lov’d charms allure,
Its influence sweet doth feel like placid lake,
When the sun peers thro’ clouds that passing lower;
The world shut out, he doth indeed forsake
Its noisy clamour loud, and quiet study take.
For he whiloime had passed a winsome hour
Of dear delight, the studious soul can prove
Who oft hath felt its soft bewitching pow’r;
When syren poesy’s lov’d charms allure,
Its influence sweet doth feel like placid lake,
When the sun peers thro’ clouds that passing lower;
The world shut out, he doth indeed forsake
Its noisy clamour loud, and quiet study take.
CLX.
With feelings thus attuned he led the throng
To lofty entrance famed for Doric grace,
Thro’ which they glided quick, nor linger’d long
Its cupola to gaze and frieze-work trace,
But enter’d straight that learning’s pleasant place;
A noble fair apartment ’twas, I ween,
Rich mouldings skilful wrought it did embrace,
Pillars of porphyry polished bright were seen
In graceful rows, that gave a beauty to the scene.
To lofty entrance famed for Doric grace,
Thro’ which they glided quick, nor linger’d long
Its cupola to gaze and frieze-work trace,
But enter’d straight that learning’s pleasant place;
A noble fair apartment ’twas, I ween,
Rich mouldings skilful wrought it did embrace,
Pillars of porphyry polished bright were seen
In graceful rows, that gave a beauty to the scene.
CLXI.
Here busts of noble names surmounted stood,
Illustrious sons renowned in classic lore,
Those whom th’ immortal sisters ardent woo’d,
Or poured from intellect its richest store,
The treasury of mind’s electric pow’r;
’Mong men the chief divinest Shakespeare seen;
Milton, tho’ blind, sublimity his dower;
Hesiod and Homer in their glories sheen;
Bacon, Locke, Newton great, and Mantuan bard serene.
Illustrious sons renowned in classic lore,
Those whom th’ immortal sisters ardent woo’d,
Or poured from intellect its richest store,
The treasury of mind’s electric pow’r;
’Mong men the chief divinest Shakespeare seen;
Milton, tho’ blind, sublimity his dower;
Hesiod and Homer in their glories sheen;
Bacon, Locke, Newton great, and Mantuan bard serene.
CLXII.
On num’rous shelves, arranged pile above pile,
Ten thousand volumes met the student’s eye,
Unique and scarce, black letter’s olden style,
Rare manuscripts, and missals could descry,
And pond’rous tomes of noble ancestry
Heraldic, and the illuminated page,
The tourney field, and martial chivalry,
In costly colours drawn, did them engage,
With many quaint device accordant with the age.
Ten thousand volumes met the student’s eye,
Unique and scarce, black letter’s olden style,
Rare manuscripts, and missals could descry,
And pond’rous tomes of noble ancestry
Heraldic, and the illuminated page,
The tourney field, and martial chivalry,
In costly colours drawn, did them engage,
With many quaint device accordant with the age.
CLXIII.
In various wide compartments classified,
Man’s hist’ry handed down from age to age;
Geology, with strata-earth described;
Arts, science, and the biographic page;
With great discoveries of the olden sage;
Or modern ingenuity and skill,
Inventions new, and projects that engage
This ever restless era’s movements still,
That rolls its progress forth like waves’ resistless will.
Man’s hist’ry handed down from age to age;
Geology, with strata-earth described;
Arts, science, and the biographic page;
With great discoveries of the olden sage;
Or modern ingenuity and skill,
Inventions new, and projects that engage
This ever restless era’s movements still,
That rolls its progress forth like waves’ resistless will.
CLXIV.
And there arranged were works of classic lore,
Deep physical, or structure of man’s frame;
The bibliopist’s and theologian’s store,
Whereas none nobler, or hath higher aim;
Ethics and science did assert their claim,
And jurisprudence with its code of laws;
With tomes of burning thought’s consuming flame—
Time’s test, and not ephemeral applause;
Writers of truth divine, who own a First Great Cause.
Deep physical, or structure of man’s frame;
The bibliopist’s and theologian’s store,
Whereas none nobler, or hath higher aim;
Ethics and science did assert their claim,
And jurisprudence with its code of laws;
With tomes of burning thought’s consuming flame—
Time’s test, and not ephemeral applause;
Writers of truth divine, who own a First Great Cause.
CLXV.
And poesy’s immortal gems were there,
Heroic, pastoral, and descriptive verse,
Elegiac and the lyric, moving tear,
Eclogue and lofty ode, I could rehearse,
As Petrarch’s sonnet, Laura’s heart to pierce;
All witching words, all thoughts of burning glow,
The soul’s rich mine extracted from its source,
Whose treasured heaps like golden ore did show
What hidden stores were there, th’ unquench’d spirit’s flow.
Heroic, pastoral, and descriptive verse,
Elegiac and the lyric, moving tear,
Eclogue and lofty ode, I could rehearse,
As Petrarch’s sonnet, Laura’s heart to pierce;
All witching words, all thoughts of burning glow,
The soul’s rich mine extracted from its source,
Whose treasured heaps like golden ore did show
What hidden stores were there, th’ unquench’d spirit’s flow.
CLXVI.
Oh! poesy divine, enchanting maid,
What spell is thine, what ardour kindling soul!
What piercing sight, tho’ dark as owlet’s shade,
Can stay thy glance, thy pinion’s flight control?
The past and future o’er thy vista roll,
The mind’s creative pageantry sublime,
That forms th’ ideal shape and living whole,
Thy wizard wand can raise with charmed rhyme,
O’ersweep the bounds of space, and outstrip panting Time.
What spell is thine, what ardour kindling soul!
What piercing sight, tho’ dark as owlet’s shade,
Can stay thy glance, thy pinion’s flight control?
The past and future o’er thy vista roll,
The mind’s creative pageantry sublime,
That forms th’ ideal shape and living whole,
Thy wizard wand can raise with charmed rhyme,
O’ersweep the bounds of space, and outstrip panting Time.
CLXVII.
No seat of learning gave a goodlier show,
Or Gottingen, or Upsall’s city famed,
Or Newton’s college, where bright Cam doth flow,
Or library famous Radcliffe’s donor named,
That oft th’ aspiring breast of student flamed,
Where Isis’ silvery stream doth murm’ring play,
And genius’ sons her studious cloister claimed,
So like in this academy might stray
All who for knowledge thirst, or marvels pleasant way.
Or Gottingen, or Upsall’s city famed,
Or Newton’s college, where bright Cam doth flow,
Or library famous Radcliffe’s donor named,
That oft th’ aspiring breast of student flamed,
Where Isis’ silvery stream doth murm’ring play,
And genius’ sons her studious cloister claimed,
So like in this academy might stray
All who for knowledge thirst, or marvels pleasant way.
CLXVIII.
And longer had they gazed, the wistful throng,
That studious nook and bookworm’s dormit’ry,
Where lone in thought his life did glide along,
In loop-hole sweet of marvellous story,
Nor cared in this retreat for aught to sigh
Save chronicle of what the great have writ,
Revered works of sage to glorify,
Repast that fed on gave new appetite,
Delectable when found, increasing man’s delight.
That studious nook and bookworm’s dormit’ry,
Where lone in thought his life did glide along,
In loop-hole sweet of marvellous story,
Nor cared in this retreat for aught to sigh
Save chronicle of what the great have writ,
Revered works of sage to glorify,
Repast that fed on gave new appetite,
Delectable when found, increasing man’s delight.
CLXIX.
And they no cared to quit its classic shade,
Had not their guide and beck’ning cicerone
First led the way to seek that sylvan glade,
Where four ways branched forth, the last unknown;
Nature, and art, and learning, he had shown,
It only now remained that science porch
(For man’s regard the loftiest, I must own)
Should straight engage their inmost souls’ research,
Upward to light the mind, as with a burning torch.
Had not their guide and beck’ning cicerone
First led the way to seek that sylvan glade,
Where four ways branched forth, the last unknown;
Nature, and art, and learning, he had shown,
It only now remained that science porch
(For man’s regard the loftiest, I must own)
Should straight engage their inmost souls’ research,
Upward to light the mind, as with a burning torch.
CANTO V.
ARGUMENT.
The Bard leads the way to the Entrance Porch of Science—Discourses by the way—The Porch, and its Description—The Entrance and Prospect—Sunrise—The Eagle, Falcon, and Vulture—Noon—Sunset—The Nightly Tower—Its Ascent—Astronomers, Galileo, &c.—Heathen Philosophers, Plato, &c.—A View of the Starry Heavens—The Moon—A Moonlight Scene—The Vault of Night—Planets—Milky Way—Harmony of the Earth’s Evolution, and her attendant Planet—Reflections on the Immensity of the Universe.
CANTO V.
CLXX.
Marshalling the way, by tract untrod before,
Discoursing mainly on fair science theme,
Geology, and geometric lore,
Attraction’s laws, and rainbow optic’s beam,
Prismatic hues that Newton learned to gleam,
And gravity the fallen fruit made known
To his great mind, on whom discovery’s stream
Poured her clear light, and claimed him as her own;
Galileo, Pascal, Boyle, renowned names, were shown.
Discoursing mainly on fair science theme,
Geology, and geometric lore,
Attraction’s laws, and rainbow optic’s beam,
Prismatic hues that Newton learned to gleam,
And gravity the fallen fruit made known
To his great mind, on whom discovery’s stream
Poured her clear light, and claimed him as her own;
Galileo, Pascal, Boyle, renowned names, were shown.
CLXXI.
Beguiled with knowledge and instructive speech
Until they gained the porch, fair science, hight,
By that fair sylvan glade they joy’d to reach,
That marv’lous led to pleasantries delight:
The spot whereof their guide had charmed the sight
With bright illusions, not less bright than true;
Revealed again the past, tho’ hid in night,
And what was old once more revived as new;
Things ’neath, and on the earth, those ’bove, they now pursue.
Until they gained the porch, fair science, hight,
By that fair sylvan glade they joy’d to reach,
That marv’lous led to pleasantries delight:
The spot whereof their guide had charmed the sight
With bright illusions, not less bright than true;
Revealed again the past, tho’ hid in night,
And what was old once more revived as new;
Things ’neath, and on the earth, those ’bove, they now pursue.
CLXXII.
With awe akin to rev’rence they beheld
What seem’d a porch or entrance bold display’d,
Baseless as tho’ on floating clouds propell’d,
Yet show’d fair columns thro’ the mist array’d,
Like those of Pallas, half obscured in shade,
With figures geometral carved in stone,
That did adorn that portico’s façade;
The zodiac signs and optic tube were shown,
And here Urania crowned with stars emblazoned shone.
What seem’d a porch or entrance bold display’d,
Baseless as tho’ on floating clouds propell’d,
Yet show’d fair columns thro’ the mist array’d,
Like those of Pallas, half obscured in shade,
With figures geometral carved in stone,
That did adorn that portico’s façade;
The zodiac signs and optic tube were shown,
And here Urania crowned with stars emblazoned shone.
CLXXIII.
They entered straight up steps that rose in air,
So buoyant seemed that lofty flight’s ascent,
From whose high top it oped on vision fair,
Not goodlier showed from mount or battlement,
That much they wondered at its wide extent;
All marv’lous fill’d with that enticing view,
The ambient air they seemed to circumvent,
As glanced their sight o’er dizzy mountains blue,
And ever varied sky, o’ertinged with golden hue.
So buoyant seemed that lofty flight’s ascent,
From whose high top it oped on vision fair,
Not goodlier showed from mount or battlement,
That much they wondered at its wide extent;
All marv’lous fill’d with that enticing view,
The ambient air they seemed to circumvent,
As glanced their sight o’er dizzy mountains blue,
And ever varied sky, o’ertinged with golden hue.
CLXXIV.
For now they took their stand on some huge height
Apennine, or like to Caucasus upborne,
From whence they could descry the golden light,
When Phœbus first unbars the gates of morn,
Dispread his amber golden locks unshorn,
When as a god his forehead’s orient beam
Doth usher in the ruddy streaked dawn,
When Phæton-like he guides his fiery team,
Whose axle’s glow doth fright dark Erebus’ foul dream.
Apennine, or like to Caucasus upborne,
From whence they could descry the golden light,
When Phœbus first unbars the gates of morn,
Dispread his amber golden locks unshorn,
When as a god his forehead’s orient beam
Doth usher in the ruddy streaked dawn,
When Phæton-like he guides his fiery team,
Whose axle’s glow doth fright dark Erebus’ foul dream.
CLXXV.
Far from the earth they tracked the eagle’s haunt,
They saw the king of birds his eyry rear,
Watching his clam’rous brood of eaglets gaunt,
Or pounce for prey, then soaring upward bear,
With cruel talons strong, the kid to tear;
They saw him take his strong and awful flight,
With dusky pinion cleaving wide the air,
O’er turmoil wave beneath, or craggy height,
There gazing on the sun his fixed undazzled sight.
They saw the king of birds his eyry rear,
Watching his clam’rous brood of eaglets gaunt,
Or pounce for prey, then soaring upward bear,
With cruel talons strong, the kid to tear;
They saw him take his strong and awful flight,
With dusky pinion cleaving wide the air,
O’er turmoil wave beneath, or craggy height,
There gazing on the sun his fixed undazzled sight.
CLXXVI.
And other birds of prey, with rav’nous maw:
The falcon, stooping o’er his quarry weak;
The vulture, horrid bird, neck bare they saw,
Scenting the air his carrion foul to seek,
And glut on entrails with his tearing beak;
Like that fierce bird Prometheus cruel found,
That gnawed his heart, and did its vengeance wreak,
Upon his agonizing victim bound
That ever fed, and found new flesh at every wound.
The falcon, stooping o’er his quarry weak;
The vulture, horrid bird, neck bare they saw,
Scenting the air his carrion foul to seek,
And glut on entrails with his tearing beak;
Like that fierce bird Prometheus cruel found,
That gnawed his heart, and did its vengeance wreak,
Upon his agonizing victim bound
That ever fed, and found new flesh at every wound.
CLXXVII.
Lo! now bright Sol had risen high, and strong
The mountains crimsoned o’er were capp’d with gold;
O’er tow’r and tree the radiance stole along,
Swept o’er the vale, while wave empurpled roll’d;
And nature smiled, her glories to unfold;
The warbling choir at heav’n’s gate did sing;
The air, with teeming life rejoicing, told
Of insects’ jubilee, and their off’ring,
That bask in sunny ray, or spread the burnished wing.
The mountains crimsoned o’er were capp’d with gold;
O’er tow’r and tree the radiance stole along,
Swept o’er the vale, while wave empurpled roll’d;
And nature smiled, her glories to unfold;
The warbling choir at heav’n’s gate did sing;
The air, with teeming life rejoicing, told
Of insects’ jubilee, and their off’ring,
That bask in sunny ray, or spread the burnished wing.
CLXXVIII.
The zenith pass’d, the glorious orb of day,
His sloping wheels fast hast’ning to the west,
Dispreads his gorgeous vestment’s gold array,
Swift hurrying on his fiery team to rest,
The goal to reach, fair islands of the blest;
A voice went up from ocean, earth, and air,
In pæons heard spontaneous loud addrest,
That fill’d th’ empyrean vast with acclaim clear:
Oh! would but thankless man record the Giver’s care.
His sloping wheels fast hast’ning to the west,
Dispreads his gorgeous vestment’s gold array,
Swift hurrying on his fiery team to rest,
The goal to reach, fair islands of the blest;
A voice went up from ocean, earth, and air,
In pæons heard spontaneous loud addrest,
That fill’d th’ empyrean vast with acclaim clear:
Oh! would but thankless man record the Giver’s care.
CLXXIX.
Yet what sublimer can enchant the sight,
Or can with its magnificence compare
Its evening setting and its morning light,
Of which mankind its daily glories share,
Nor sees the Hand that guides the blazing sphere,
That up the shining way treads like a god,
Diurnal seen, if seen with brutish stare,
Nor aught attracts beyond this earthly clod,
Their being’s end and aim is dormouse-like to plod.
Or can with its magnificence compare
Its evening setting and its morning light,
Of which mankind its daily glories share,
Nor sees the Hand that guides the blazing sphere,
That up the shining way treads like a god,
Diurnal seen, if seen with brutish stare,
Nor aught attracts beyond this earthly clod,
Their being’s end and aim is dormouse-like to plod.
CLXXX.
But lo! the shadows dim like pale ghosts rise,
That warns we should descend this promont’ry,
And gain yon tow’r, just seen beneath the skies
In twilight gloom of deep solemnity;
The air breathes still as silence seated by,
That suits our purpose o’er the heav’ns to gaze:
There trace the Hand that spreads the stars on high,
Man’s noblest thoughts in adoration raise,
And in the wond’rous search his great Creator praise.
That warns we should descend this promont’ry,
And gain yon tow’r, just seen beneath the skies
In twilight gloom of deep solemnity;
The air breathes still as silence seated by,
That suits our purpose o’er the heav’ns to gaze:
There trace the Hand that spreads the stars on high,
Man’s noblest thoughts in adoration raise,
And in the wond’rous search his great Creator praise.
CLXXXI.
They eftsoons gained that gray-worn lonely tow’r,
Whose spiral stone-flight they ’gan quick ascend;
Led by the bard, they reached its secret bow’r,
Where nightly watchers of the stars oft wend,
And night with ebon wand his rites attend,
Joined with Hecâte, solemn mysteries keep;
Here the pale lamp its glim’ring flame did lend,
Faint to illume th’ apartment high and steep,
Where starry science oft pursued her studies deep.
Whose spiral stone-flight they ’gan quick ascend;
Led by the bard, they reached its secret bow’r,
Where nightly watchers of the stars oft wend,
And night with ebon wand his rites attend,
Joined with Hecâte, solemn mysteries keep;
Here the pale lamp its glim’ring flame did lend,
Faint to illume th’ apartment high and steep,
Where starry science oft pursued her studies deep.
CLXXXII.
In such a tow’r Philosophy, heav’n born,
Hath here, by glimpse of chaste Diana’s ray,
Outwatched the “Bear” with optic glass till morn,
When Lucifer’s bright forehead dawned the day.
Such drew the Tuscan artist to survey
Th’ etherial field, discoveries new t’ unfold,
Which Pythagoras early led the way,
Hence Copernicus drew his system bold,
And proved the central sun, round whom the planets roll’d.
Hath here, by glimpse of chaste Diana’s ray,
Outwatched the “Bear” with optic glass till morn,
When Lucifer’s bright forehead dawned the day.
Such drew the Tuscan artist to survey
Th’ etherial field, discoveries new t’ unfold,
Which Pythagoras early led the way,
Hence Copernicus drew his system bold,
And proved the central sun, round whom the planets roll’d.
CLXXXIII.
“Plato divine, so call’d, the learned great,
From such an elevation thus could scan
The concave heav’n;—make known a future state,
A Being vast supreme define to man,
As far as reason of an heathen can,
That hath not Revelation’s light to guide,
Unknown to him redemption’s mighty plan,
Eke hid from Cato, Socrates beside,
Bless’d truth revealed to man, in which he can confide.”
From such an elevation thus could scan
The concave heav’n;—make known a future state,
A Being vast supreme define to man,
As far as reason of an heathen can,
That hath not Revelation’s light to guide,
Unknown to him redemption’s mighty plan,
Eke hid from Cato, Socrates beside,
Bless’d truth revealed to man, in which he can confide.”
CLXXXIV.
Thus spake the bard with sweet digressive speech,
That from his lips like Hybla honey fell,
On whom his list’ners hung as he did teach
With winning voice that seemed to please them well;
Not fair Calypso, from her grotto cell,
With more endearment drew Ulysses’ son,
Or did enforce, like Mentor, grave counsel
In wisdom, science’ walks, delightful shown,
As his recital gave, and charmingly made known.
That from his lips like Hybla honey fell,
On whom his list’ners hung as he did teach
With winning voice that seemed to please them well;
Not fair Calypso, from her grotto cell,
With more endearment drew Ulysses’ son,
Or did enforce, like Mentor, grave counsel
In wisdom, science’ walks, delightful shown,
As his recital gave, and charmingly made known.
CLXXXV.
Ascending, then, its frowning battlement,
From which the field of space they did command,
Wide as from Pharos seen for bold extent—
Ocean and sky, and point of farthest land;
There upward pointing rose from lofty stand,
Like Herschel’s telescope of mighty pow’r,
Whose pond’rous tube surprised the gazing band,
And more amazed when told how vast its tour,
That compass’d rolling suns, planets, and stars obscure.
From which the field of space they did command,
Wide as from Pharos seen for bold extent—
Ocean and sky, and point of farthest land;
There upward pointing rose from lofty stand,
Like Herschel’s telescope of mighty pow’r,
Whose pond’rous tube surprised the gazing band,
And more amazed when told how vast its tour,
That compass’d rolling suns, planets, and stars obscure.
CLXXXVI.
See! Hesperus now leads the starry host,
With silver-zoned Diana, goddess fair,
Who love-enamoured came to Caria’s coast,
To Latmos mountain nightly did repair,
Endymion boy to kiss with glossy hair,
Fabled in youthful loveliness to sleep;
And Orion, whom pale Phœbe’s love did share;
There glitt’ring Pleiades calm watchings keep,
That bid the sailor steer in safety o’er the deep.
With silver-zoned Diana, goddess fair,
Who love-enamoured came to Caria’s coast,
To Latmos mountain nightly did repair,
Endymion boy to kiss with glossy hair,
Fabled in youthful loveliness to sleep;
And Orion, whom pale Phœbe’s love did share;
There glitt’ring Pleiades calm watchings keep,
That bid the sailor steer in safety o’er the deep.
CLXXXVII.
Full orbed the moon, “Luna” yclep’d in heav’n,
See how she parts the silv’ry skirted cloud,
That o’er her pathway wends by winds fast driv’n,
And doth her form of beauty oft enshroud,
’Neath yon pavilion as her head she bow’d,
Or mounting soars once more the azure night;
Not fairer her whom robed as Isis show’d,
Egypt’s fair queen in her adornment bright,
That drew the Roman’s gaze and love-entranced sight.
See how she parts the silv’ry skirted cloud,
That o’er her pathway wends by winds fast driv’n,
And doth her form of beauty oft enshroud,
’Neath yon pavilion as her head she bow’d,
Or mounting soars once more the azure night;
Not fairer her whom robed as Isis show’d,
Egypt’s fair queen in her adornment bright,
That drew the Roman’s gaze and love-entranced sight.
CLXXXVIII.
Soaring ’mid highest noon her lucid beam,
Illumes with mellow light, rock, hill, valley,
And nodding wood, and rivers flowing gleam,
And white sail seen in calm serenity,
And limpid spring heard murm’ring pleasantly;
While curfew’s chime swings loud from distant shore,
Where silvery moonbeams fall on tow’r and tree,
Nor voice of multitude like ocean’s roar
Disturbs the tranquil night, Salvator’s soft-like hour.
Illumes with mellow light, rock, hill, valley,
And nodding wood, and rivers flowing gleam,
And white sail seen in calm serenity,
And limpid spring heard murm’ring pleasantly;
While curfew’s chime swings loud from distant shore,
Where silvery moonbeams fall on tow’r and tree,
Nor voice of multitude like ocean’s roar
Disturbs the tranquil night, Salvator’s soft-like hour.
CLXXXIX.
See yon expanse fretted with golden fires,
In mazy dance their several orbits wend
Harmonious round, that never stops nor tires,
A flight immeasurable that knows no end,
In number infinite, that cannot blend!
Each nicely balanced by attractions pow’r
And centrifugal force, their course attend;
Projectile hurled on their stupendous tour,
Orb following orb sublime in one eternal sphere.
In mazy dance their several orbits wend
Harmonious round, that never stops nor tires,
A flight immeasurable that knows no end,
In number infinite, that cannot blend!
Each nicely balanced by attractions pow’r
And centrifugal force, their course attend;
Projectile hurled on their stupendous tour,
Orb following orb sublime in one eternal sphere.
CXC.
Yon planet see, nearest the orb of day,
Mercury of sparkling red, great Hermes named;
And Venus fair, with white and purest ray;
Our Earth, and Mars with fiery aspect flamed,
Emblem of war, that terror, discord, claimed;
And Jupiter, resplendent orb of light,
With his attendant moons and belts so famed;
Ringed Saturn, dimly red with sluggish flight,
Whose children Rhea bore devouring quenched in night.
Mercury of sparkling red, great Hermes named;
And Venus fair, with white and purest ray;
Our Earth, and Mars with fiery aspect flamed,
Emblem of war, that terror, discord, claimed;
And Jupiter, resplendent orb of light,
With his attendant moons and belts so famed;
Ringed Saturn, dimly red with sluggish flight,
Whose children Rhea bore devouring quenched in night.
CXCI.
And far beyond yon outer circle’s range
The Georgium Sidus wheels thro’ space immense;
And more, eccentric Comet’s orbit strange,
That frights the nations as it flames intense,
The brandished scimitar of Omnipotence,
Or shoots a train that arc of heav’n doth span,
Onward through space; nor back returneth hence,
For philosophic eye again to scan,
Till ages thrice have swept the myriad race of man.
The Georgium Sidus wheels thro’ space immense;
And more, eccentric Comet’s orbit strange,
That frights the nations as it flames intense,
The brandished scimitar of Omnipotence,
Or shoots a train that arc of heav’n doth span,
Onward through space; nor back returneth hence,
For philosophic eye again to scan,
Till ages thrice have swept the myriad race of man.
CXCII.
See yon faint stream of light the heav’ns embrace,
The galaxy or milky-way so hight,
Like nebula spread infinite o’er space,
Studded in clusters thick as Bootes bright;
The greater and the lesser Bear of night,
Conspicuous seen athwart the northern sky,
That cheers the tempest-tost ’plex’d seamen’s sight,
And polar fixed star he doth descry,
To guide his vent’rous bark, borne on the billows high.
The galaxy or milky-way so hight,
Like nebula spread infinite o’er space,
Studded in clusters thick as Bootes bright;
The greater and the lesser Bear of night,
Conspicuous seen athwart the northern sky,
That cheers the tempest-tost ’plex’d seamen’s sight,
And polar fixed star he doth descry,
To guide his vent’rous bark, borne on the billows high.
CXCIII.
These seven revolving planets, ever bright,
That round our system’s sun all glorious roll,
And shine all radiant with a borrowed light,
Form but a section of the mighty whole.
The thought it kindled up the poet’s soul,
To stretch her pinion o’er the vast profound,
System on system ’bove the starry pole,
That man’s poor intellect it doth astound,
Whose flight, like Icarus, soon hastens to the ground.
That round our system’s sun all glorious roll,
And shine all radiant with a borrowed light,
Form but a section of the mighty whole.
The thought it kindled up the poet’s soul,
To stretch her pinion o’er the vast profound,
System on system ’bove the starry pole,
That man’s poor intellect it doth astound,
Whose flight, like Icarus, soon hastens to the ground.
CXCIV.
“Know then” (so ’gan the rapt inspired bard)
“This glorious earth, on which we live and move,
Sings as it spins (its Maker’s chief regard,
Scene of man’s fall, and eke redeeming love),
In loveliest harmony like yon orbs above;
With gentle slope that gives the varied year
Revolving, deviates not its track to rove,
And on its axis doth diurnal steer:
Hence day and night, sweet change, harmonious doth appear.
“This glorious earth, on which we live and move,
Sings as it spins (its Maker’s chief regard,
Scene of man’s fall, and eke redeeming love),
In loveliest harmony like yon orbs above;
With gentle slope that gives the varied year
Revolving, deviates not its track to rove,
And on its axis doth diurnal steer:
Hence day and night, sweet change, harmonious doth appear.
CXCV.
“And yon fair moon, gem of the silent night,
Is earth’s attendant handmaid seen to wait;
Her head ’kerchiefed in fleecy robe of light;
Not eastern bride displays more lovely state,
Or Peri hath a lovelier, softer gait;
I’ve wooed her many a time with love-strained eye,
When she the heav’ns hath trod, with look elate,
A flood of light outpouring from the sky,
Or bowed her radiant brow ’neath cloudy canopy.
Is earth’s attendant handmaid seen to wait;
Her head ’kerchiefed in fleecy robe of light;
Not eastern bride displays more lovely state,
Or Peri hath a lovelier, softer gait;
I’ve wooed her many a time with love-strained eye,
When she the heav’ns hath trod, with look elate,
A flood of light outpouring from the sky,
Or bowed her radiant brow ’neath cloudy canopy.
CXCVI.
“Our system vast stupendous to descry,
Yon golden sun and planets wheeling round
Is but a speck lost in immensity,
So infinite, amazing, and profound;
Thought, reason, staggers with a look astound,
Heights to explore and depths unknown to delve;
As the least grain, where ocean’s sands abound,
So doth our planetary world revolve
As small, compared with space, nor missed though it dissolve.
Yon golden sun and planets wheeling round
Is but a speck lost in immensity,
So infinite, amazing, and profound;
Thought, reason, staggers with a look astound,
Heights to explore and depths unknown to delve;
As the least grain, where ocean’s sands abound,
So doth our planetary world revolve
As small, compared with space, nor missed though it dissolve.
CXCVII.
“How like an angel sings this moving globe,
Shining resplendent thro’ her orbit’s flight,
Majestic moonlike doth her form enrobe,
But larger seen amid the vault of night
Than our fair satellite, climbing heav’n’s height,
Yet to th’ universe but a twinkling star,
As Hesperus, or Lucifer as bright,
From utmost Ferro seen, or Borneo far,
So ’mid the firmament earth wends her crystal car.
Shining resplendent thro’ her orbit’s flight,
Majestic moonlike doth her form enrobe,
But larger seen amid the vault of night
Than our fair satellite, climbing heav’n’s height,
Yet to th’ universe but a twinkling star,
As Hesperus, or Lucifer as bright,
From utmost Ferro seen, or Borneo far,
So ’mid the firmament earth wends her crystal car.
CXCVIII.
“How infinite the thought, surpassing great,
That this huge globe, with all its pomp and pride,
Mountains sublime, and nature’s awful state;
Its sea of wonders, glorious in its tide,
That rolls remotest shores its billows wide;
Its temples, glorious to beholder’s eye;
Triumphs and gorgeous pageantry, beside:
Though all dissolve and into chaos fly,
Creation still revolves, nor lays her glories by.
That this huge globe, with all its pomp and pride,
Mountains sublime, and nature’s awful state;
Its sea of wonders, glorious in its tide,
That rolls remotest shores its billows wide;
Its temples, glorious to beholder’s eye;
Triumphs and gorgeous pageantry, beside:
Though all dissolve and into chaos fly,
Creation still revolves, nor lays her glories by.
CXCIX.
“Gaze as you will, and multiply your pow’rs,
’Tis but a little span ye scan at most,
A moment’s ken, compared with minutes, hours,
Or countless years, to tell yon shining host:
Height above height, a world’s unbounded coast,
And other heav’ns and star-bespangled sky;
Could we the boundless search exploring boast,
Whose light more swift than thought doth speed and fly,
Nor yet our globe hath reached, travelling immensity.
’Tis but a little span ye scan at most,
A moment’s ken, compared with minutes, hours,
Or countless years, to tell yon shining host:
Height above height, a world’s unbounded coast,
And other heav’ns and star-bespangled sky;
Could we the boundless search exploring boast,
Whose light more swift than thought doth speed and fly,
Nor yet our globe hath reached, travelling immensity.
CC.
“Suffice we must our higher flight suspend,
Our wing restrain, conjecture infinite,
‘In wand’ring mazes lost,’ withouten end,
Blinded our gaze with uncreated light,
And only giv’n to immortal sight;
Those shackles loosed that doth our spirit bound,
Ere we can entertain such vision bright,
That mortal man exclaims, with deep astound,
How wonderful Thy works, how marvellous are found!’”
Our wing restrain, conjecture infinite,
‘In wand’ring mazes lost,’ withouten end,
Blinded our gaze with uncreated light,
And only giv’n to immortal sight;
Those shackles loosed that doth our spirit bound,
Ere we can entertain such vision bright,
That mortal man exclaims, with deep astound,
How wonderful Thy works, how marvellous are found!’”
CANTO VI.
ARGUMENT.
A Recapitulation of the Wonders Shown—The Proper Use of Knowledge enforced—The Infinite Value of Man’s Soul and Highest Destiny—An Inducement the Happiness of the Blest—The Scenes of Life chequered for a Wise Purpose—Man’s Redemption—The Summons—The Poet’s Departure—The Crowd, led by Sir Page, resume their Common Dress; after which they are brought by Sir Herald to the Postern Gate; who checks the Rabble Rout by a Blast of his Horn—The Crowd dismissed—Disperse their several Ways—Variety of their Pursuits—Dan Fantasy’s Palace is again illuminated—Other Folks invited—Sir Herald Prepares a Second Time to sound.
CANTO VI.
CCI.
“Thus have I pictured what my art could show;
Some fair illusions hidden brought to light:
The depth of earth, the bowell’d earth below,
Dark as the gloomy reign of Pluto’s night;
And ocean’s secret wonders bared to sight,
Its viewless monsters and its treasure’s heap;
Gems costly hid in many a cluster bright,
Embedded sunk as mine Golconda deep.
These have we gazed, and shown where Neptune’s waters sleep.
Some fair illusions hidden brought to light:
The depth of earth, the bowell’d earth below,
Dark as the gloomy reign of Pluto’s night;
And ocean’s secret wonders bared to sight,
Its viewless monsters and its treasure’s heap;
Gems costly hid in many a cluster bright,
Embedded sunk as mine Golconda deep.
These have we gazed, and shown where Neptune’s waters sleep.
CCII.
“And we have looked on Nature’s lovely face,
The smiling landscape and the glorious sun,
Gilding the morn to run his radiant race;
Mountains and glaciers dread we’ve gazed upon;
The mighty flowing river seen to run;
Nature beheld in woody-wild and glen,
’Mid rites of blood by ancient Druid stone;
Have tracked the savage beast in hidden den,
And swelling torrent’s roar, far from the haunts of men.
The smiling landscape and the glorious sun,
Gilding the morn to run his radiant race;
Mountains and glaciers dread we’ve gazed upon;
The mighty flowing river seen to run;
Nature beheld in woody-wild and glen,
’Mid rites of blood by ancient Druid stone;
Have tracked the savage beast in hidden den,
And swelling torrent’s roar, far from the haunts of men.
CCIII.
“The wondrous works of Art we have display’d,
Temple and column tow’ring to the sky;
The chisel’s skill, in statuary array’d,
And living canvass’ glowing imagery;
And walls adorned with ancient tapestry.
Some things of marvel looked with awe upon,
That still exist to all posterity;
Smile o’er the desert reared its ancient stone,
And have the pyramids and hoary Stonehenge shown.
Temple and column tow’ring to the sky;
The chisel’s skill, in statuary array’d,
And living canvass’ glowing imagery;
And walls adorned with ancient tapestry.
Some things of marvel looked with awe upon,
That still exist to all posterity;
Smile o’er the desert reared its ancient stone,
And have the pyramids and hoary Stonehenge shown.
CCIV.
“And some illustrious darling sons of fame
Have in review pass’d glorious in our sight,
And left behind them an enduring name,
Whose works refresh our spirits, and invite,
Fadeless as flowers that drink ambrosial light,
A flame that sheds a never quenchless ray;
So shines Hespèrus, sparkling through the night;
Or Lucifer that ushers in the day:
Such in their hemisphere ‘Learning’ and ‘Mind’ display.
Have in review pass’d glorious in our sight,
And left behind them an enduring name,
Whose works refresh our spirits, and invite,
Fadeless as flowers that drink ambrosial light,
A flame that sheds a never quenchless ray;
So shines Hespèrus, sparkling through the night;
Or Lucifer that ushers in the day:
Such in their hemisphere ‘Learning’ and ‘Mind’ display.
CCV.
“The feather’d fowl, that upward heav’n doth scale,
These we have followed in their dusky flight;
The eagle strong, or lark, or loud land-rail,
And vulture fierce, with cruel talons’ might
Bearing his victim to his craggy height;
View’d all the air with living creatures swarm,
Dance in the sunbeam with a golden light:
These we discoursed, enraptured with the charm
Of Nature fair dispread, that doth the fancy warm.
These we have followed in their dusky flight;
The eagle strong, or lark, or loud land-rail,
And vulture fierce, with cruel talons’ might
Bearing his victim to his craggy height;
View’d all the air with living creatures swarm,
Dance in the sunbeam with a golden light:
These we discoursed, enraptured with the charm
Of Nature fair dispread, that doth the fancy warm.