Whence then the old belief, that all began By coafting boats from next adjacent shore ; 330 Would thofe, from whom we will fuppofe they fpring, Would they on board or Bears or Lynxes take, 335 And, fince the Savage Lineage we must trace From Noah fav'd, and his distinguish'd race; How should their fathers happen to forget 340 The arts which Noah taught, the rules he fet, While the great Sire's unhappy fons are found, 345 And rude of arts, of virtue, and of God ? The varied forms of every thing we view; How fhall we next o'er earth and seas pursue 350 355 To grafs and plants, and thickens into earth: Dilates its drops, and foftens into air : Thofe Thofe finer parts of air again afpire, Move into warmth, and brighten into fire: And downward forc'd, in earth's capacious womb But lies refplendent dust, and shining ore; Or, running through the mighty mother's veins, Difparted freams fhall from their channels fly, And furious wind, down to the distant plain 360 365 370 375 Thus, by a length of years and change of fate, All things are light or heavy, fmall or great : Thus Jordan's waves fhall future clouds appear; 380 Thus later age fhall afk for Pifon's flood ; And travelers enquire, where Babel ftood. Now where we see these changes often fall, Sedate we pass them by as natural; 385 Are Are all things miracle; or nothing fuch? For that, a branch cut off, a wither'd rod 390 Is this more ftrange, than that the mountain's brow, 400 405 Is this more ftrange, than that with common bread } 410 } 415 By what our ear has heard, or eye may see? Say then is all in heaps of water loft, Beyond the islands, and the mid-land coaft? Or has that God, who gave our world its birth, Where, by the strength of this idea charm'd, Lighten'd with glory, and with rapture warm'd, Afcends my foul? what fees fhe white and great 420 425 430 435 And lands, which we imagine wave and sky. 440 From pole to pole fhe hears her acts refound, Long fhall Britannia (that must be her name) 445 Be first in conqueft, and prefide in fame : Long shall her favour'd monarchy engage 5 Rever'd Rever'd and happy she shall long remain, Of human things leaft changeable, least vain. 450 And this great glorious power, though last, must die. Now let us leave this earth, and lift our eye To the large convex of yon' azure sky: Behold it like an ample curtain spread, 455 Now streak'd and glowing with the morning-red; And chufing fable for the peaceful night. Afk Reason now, whence light and shade were given, And whence this great variety of Heaven. Reason, our guide, what can she more reply, Than that the fun illuminates the sky; Than that night rises from his absent ray, But we expect the morning-red in vain: 'Tis hid in vapours, or obfcur'd by rain. The noon-tide yellow we in vain require: 'Tis black in ftorm, or red in lightning fire. Pitchy and dark the night fometimes appears, Friend to our woe, and parent of our fears: Our joy and wonder fometimes she excites, With ftars unnumber'd, and eternal lights. 460 455 470 Send forth, ye wife, fend forth your labouring thought: Let it return with empty notions fraught, Of airy columns every moment broke, 475 New change of terms, and fcaffolding of words: Of circling whirlpools, and of spheres of smoke: |