Poetics :: :: University of Virginia Library

Are there, who skim the stream of life,
Catching delight from every passing gale?
Their ear no sounds of grief assail,
They heed not nature's strife:
Bright skies illume their dawn of day,
While music wakes her magic powers;
No clouds obstruct their noon-tide ray,
And to soft measures move their evening hours:
Gaily, Love's idle rovers, on they glide,
And Pleasure, laughing Fair, the vessel deigns to guide.

Their destin'd course some lonely bend,
Where no propitious gales attend;
And, hark! the note of woe from far,
The frantic scream, the din of war:

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Struggling with storms, their mornings doubtful rise:
Slow, sullen, sad, proceed their hours along:
'Mid scowling tempests close their evening skies,
Nor soothes their ear the cheerful voice of song.

But, lo! the sons of genius stand,
And Science open spreads the volume fair;
And Friendship waves her hand,
To check the child of Mirth, to soothe the child of Care.
Nature assumes her smiling form,
Like Ocean resting from a storm:
From distant India's pearly shores,
From mystic Egypt's latent stores,
To where in Grecia's tuneful groves
The Graces wanton'd with the Loves,
Lo! Science comes, and takes her awful seat;
See Genius glide along, his Queen's advance to greet.

Deep in a vale, remote from noise,
Long bloom'd the lovely Stranger, fond to trace
The starry spheres—the world of mind, the grace
Of mystic truth—her joys,
Her vestment, simple:—Sages came;—
They mark her eye, her even soul,
The modest blush, the living flame,
From inward light, that o'er the visage stole.
—To them 'twas given to deck the lovely dame,
In robes by Beauty wove, and lift her into fame.

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Saw you the sun dispensing light?
Clouds soon have veil'd the glory bright.
And thus, in Grecia's baneful hour,
Beneath the misty frown of power,
Science lay hid;—then Goths and priests arose,
And scatter'd blasts and mildews wide around;
Till in the vale where fruitful Arno flows,
Fair Science smil'd again, as on Parnassian ground.

Now see her rise serenely great,
Dispensing golden blessings from on high!
A sun, in more than royal state,
Supreme she rules, amidst a cloudless sky:
See Dulness close her eye of lead!
See Superstition's reptiles dead!
Sloth drags along her slimy way,
And Ignorance retires from day!
While Genius lifts his eye of fire,
Beholds the light, and strikes his lyre:
Views all around a new creation rise,
Fields of perennial green, and fairer brighter skies.

The blooming wreath of rapt'rous praise
Now weave with varied skill, and conscious pride,
As when, near Pisa's laurell'd side,
The Theban wove the bays.
Of soul serene, and eye sublime,
Immortal Science, hail! to thee,

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Bright with the precious spoils of time,
We yield the crown, we bend the willing knee;
To thee the Virtues all obedient rise,
And Truth unveils her face, and looks with smiling eyes.

“Ye sons of Mirth, and sons of Care,
“See me the bower of bliss prepare:
“Near me descend ambrosial showers;
“Near me shall bloom immortal flowers;
“Oh! hither, then, your erring courses bend;
“Soon near my side shall Care forget to grieve;
“Here Mirth's wild crew may haply find a friend;
“And pining Melancholy dare to live!”

Thus Science spoke aloud—when, lo!
By Fancy's eye was seen the sacred choir,
That taught with vivid glow
The canvas first to shine, that wak'd the melting lyre.
And round and round their Queen they move,
Symphonious to the voice of Love.
Nor did in vain the thrilling dart
Of Music pierce the captiv'd heart;
Till every discord died away,
As clouds before the solar ray.
Thro' the wide earth th'harmonic chords resound;
While Rapture lifts her voice, and Goodness smiles around.