Nothing can satisfy, but what confounds; vault. With just attention is it view'd? We feel 25 Enter a temple, it will strike an awe. The touch'd spectator wishes to be wise. And yet, so thwarted Nature's kind design tion Of toys terrestrial, she can rove at large; ontemplating their grandeur, finds her own; soul Grows conscious of her birth celestial; breathes As earth the body, since, the skies sustain And riots through the luxuries of thought. 315 320 Of fruit ambrosial, moral fruit to man. Call it the breast-plate of the true High Priest, To more than common guilt, and quite inverts Ardent with gems oracular, that give, Celestial art's intent. The trembling stars 270 In points of highest moment, right response; See crimes gigantic, stalking thro' the gloom, And ill neglected, if we prize our peace. With front erect, that hide their head by day,How glorious, then, appears the mind of man, And making night still darker by their deeds. When in it, all the stars and planets roll! Slumb'ring in covert, till the shades descend, And what it seems, it is. Great objects make Rapine and Murder, link'd, now prowl for Great minds, enlarging as their views enlarge; 275 Those still more godlike, as these more di prey. The miser earths his treasure ;and the thief, morn. ere Now plots, and foul conspiracies, awake; moon, 280 Havoc and devastation they prepare, Yet shrink and shudder at a mortal's sight.2 No; they were made to fashion the sublime 290 Delightful outlet of her prison here! 351 And set the seeming married planets free! 360 And roll forever. Who can satiate sight In such a scene! in such an ocean wide Of deep astonishment? where depth, height, breadth, 395 Are lost in their extremes; and, where to count The thick-sown glories in this field of fire, Perhaps a seraph's computation fails. Now, go, Ambition! boast thy boundless might In conquest o'er the tenth part of a grain. 399 Who turns his eye on nature's midnight face, But what must inquire-" What hand behind the scene, What arm almighty, put these wheeling globes In motion, and wound up the vast machine? Who rounded in his palm these spacious orbs! Who bowl'd them flaming thio' the dark pro. found, 405 Num'rous as glitt'ring gems of morning-dew, Or sparks from pop'lous cities in a blaze, And set the bosom of old Night on fire? Peopled her desert, and made horror smile?" Or, if the military style delights thee, 410 (For stars have fought their battles, leagu'd with man,) Where are the pillars that support the skies? strange art, In fluid air these pond'rous orbs sustains? Who would not think them hung in golden chains? And so they are, in the high will of Heav'n, 370 375 380 Ye citizens of air! what ardent thanks, What full effusion of the grateful heart, Is due from man, indulg'd in such a sight! A sight so noble ! and a sight so kind! It drops new truths at every new survey! Of higher scenes be, then, the call obey'd. O let me gaze!-Of gazing there's no end. O let me think!-Thought too is wilder'd here; In mid-way flight, imagination tires; Yet soon re-prunes her wings, to soar anew, Her point unable to forbear or gain; So great the pleasure, so profound the plan! A banquet this, where men and angels meet, Eat the same manna, mingle earth and heav'n. How distant some of these nocturnal suns !385 So distant (says the sage,t) 'twere not absurd To doubt, if beams, set out at nature's birth, Are yet arriv'd at this so foreign world; Though nothing half so rapid as their flight. An eye of awe and wonder let me roll, THugenius, names? Appoints their posts, their marches and returns, Punctual as stated periods? Who disbands Arrang'd and disciplin'd, and cloth'd in gold; 425 NO. 187. IMAGINARY JOURNEY TO THE NO. 188. ADDRESS TO THE INHABIT For man's ascent; at once to tempt and aid; To tempt hise ye, and aid his tow'ring thought; Till it arrives at the great goal of all. 5 re 10 In ardent Contemplation's rapid car, From earth, as from my barrier, I set out. How swift I mount ! diminish'd earth recedes! I pass the moon; and from her farther side, Pierce heav'n's blue curtain; strike into mote; Where with his lifted tube, the subtle sage His artificial, airy journey takes, And to celestial, lengthens human sight. I pause at every planet on my road, And ask for Him who gives their orbs to roll,15 Their foreheads fair to shine. From Saturn's ring, 20 In which, of earths an army might be lost, A wilderness of wonders burning round; 20 For aid, to reason sets his glory higher; Who built thus high for worms; (mere worms to Him ;) O where, Lorenzo! must the Builder dwell? Pause, then; and for a moment, here respire If human thought can keep its station here. 35 Where am I? Where is earth?-Nay, where art thou, O Sun? Is the sun turn'd recluse ?-and are And see a thousand firmaments beneath! 40 ANTS OF THE STARS. "OYE, as distant from my little home, As swiftest sun beams in an age can Far from my native element I roam, colony from heav'n? or only rais'd, By frequent visit from heav'n's neighb'ring realms, 10 To secondary gods, and half-divine ?— thron'd, 15 Intemperance to do the work of Age! And toss him twice ten thousand at a meal.35 40 Your spirits clean, are delicately clad 45 Raw candidates at school? And have you Ye searching, ye Newtonian angels! tell, And nurses Folly's children as her own; In still approaching circles, still remote, Revolving round the sun's eternal Sire? Or sent, in lines direct, on embassies And kindly teach dull hell her own black arts; To nations--in what latitude?-Beyond Satan, instructed, o'er their morals smiles.-Terrestrial thought's horizon !--And on what But this how strange to you, who know not man ! 60 Has the least rumor of our race arriv'd? 20 High errands sent ?--Here human effort ends; And leaves me still a stranger to his throne. Full well it might! I quite mistook my road; Born in an age more curious than devout; More fond to fix the place of heav'n, or hell, Than studious this to shun, or that secure. de-'Tis not the curious, but the pious path, 65 That leads me to point. Lorenzo! know, Without or star or angel, for their guide, Who worship God, shall find him. Humble love, Stain'd your pure crystal ether; or let fall Athwart his way; nor reach'd his present home; Β' Nor wash'd in ocean, as from Rome he past 30 And not proud reason, keeps the door of heav'n; Love finds admission, where proud science fails. 40 70 Man's science is the culture of his heart; 5 And if he finds, commences more than man? |