University of Virginia Library

Chap. 28.

There are rich Veines of Gold, and silver Mines;
VVhose Ore the fire in crucibles refines.
So dig'd up Ir'on is in the furnace blowne:
And Brasse extracted from the melting Stone.
Men through the wounded Earth inforce their way;
And shew the under Shades an unknowne Day:
While from her bowels they her Treasure teare;
And to their avarice subject their feare.
Their they with Subterranean Waters meet;
And Currents, never touch't by humane feet:
These, by their bold endeavors, are made dry;
And from the Industry of Mortals flye,
The Earth with yellow eares her browes attires;
Although her Jawes exhale imbosom'd fires.
Torne Rocks the sparkling Diamond unfold;
The blushing Ruby, and pure graines of Gold.
Those gloomy vaults no wandring foule descries:
Nor are they pierced by the Vultures eyes.
Swift Tygres, which in pathlesse Deserts stray,
Nor solitary Lyons tread that way.
Their restlesse Labors cleave the living Stone:
Cloud-touching Mountaines by their Roots ore'throwne.
New streames through wondering Rocks their tract pursue;
VVhile they the Magazines of Nature view:
VVho swelling Floods with narrow bounds inclose;
And what in Darknesse lurkt, to Light expose.
But where above the Earth, or under ground,
Can VVisedome by the search of Man be found?
Her worth his estimation farre excels:
Conceal'd from sence, nor with the living dwels.
The Seas reply; shee lies not in our Deeps:
Nor in our floods her radiant tresses steeps.
Nor are her rare endowments to be sold
For silver Hils; or Rivers pav'd with gold.
Nor for the glittering sand by Ophir showne;
The blew-ey'd Saphir, or rich Onix stone:
For Rocks of Christall from the Ocean brought:
Nor Jewels by the rarest workeman wrought.
Can blazing Carbuncles with her compare?
Or groves of Corrall hardned by the Aire?
The Tophas sent from scorched Meroë?
Or Pearles presented by the Indian Sea?
VVhence comes shee? from what undiscover'd Land?
Or where doth her concealed palace stand?
Since O, invisible to mortall Eye:
Or winged Travellers that trace the skie.
Death and Destruction say; her fame alone
Hath reach'd our Eares; but to our Eyes unknowne.
God onely understands her sacred wayes:
The Temple knowes where shee her Light displayes.
For he at once the Orbe of Earth beholds;
And all that Heav'ns blew Canopie infolds:
To measure out the strugling Winds by weight;
That else the world would teare in their debate:
And bridle the wilds Floods; least they their bound
Againe should passe, and all the Earth surrown'd.
When he in Clouds the dropping waters hung,
And through their roaring jawes his Lightning flung;
Then he beheld her face, her light displaid,
Prepar'd her paths, and thus to Mortals said:
The feare of God is wisedome; and to flye
From Evill, is of vertues the most high.