Look down on earth---What seest thou? wondrous
Terrestrial wonders, that eclipse the skies. [things!
What lengths of labour'd lands! what loaded seas! 766
Loaded by man for pleasure, wealth, or war!
Seas, winds, and planets, into service brought,
His art acknowledge, and promote his ends.
Nor can th' eternal rocks his will withstand:
What levell'd mountains! and what lifted vales!
O'er vales and mountains sumptuous cities swell,
And gild our landscape with their glitt' ring spires.
Some 'mid the wond'ring waves majestick rise,
And Neptune holds a mirror to their charms.
Far greater still! (what cannot mortal might?)
See wide dominions ravish'd from the deep!
The narrow'd deep with indignation foams.
Or southward turn, to delicate and grand.
The finer arts there ripen in the sun.
How the tall temples, as to meet their gods,
Ascend the skies! the proud triumphal arch
Shews us half heav'n beneath its ample bend.
High thro' mid air here streams are taught to flow;
Whole rivers there, laid by in basons, sleep.
Here plains turn oceans; there vast oceans join
Thro' kingdoms channel!'d deep from shore to shore,
And chang'd creation takes its face from man.
Beats thy brave breast for formidable scenes,
Where fame and empire wait upon the sword?
See fields in blood; her naval thunders rise;
Britannia's voice! that awes the world to peace.
How yon' enormous mole projecting breaks
The mid sea, furious waves! their roar amidst
Outspeaks the Deity, and says, "O Main!
"Thus far, nor farther; new restraints obey."
Earth's disembowel'd! measur'd are the skies!
Stars are detected in their deep recess!
Creation widens! vanquish'd Nature yields!
Her secrets are extorted! art prevails!
Wkat monument of genius, spirit, pow'r!
And now, Lorenzo! raptur'd at this scene, Whose glories render heav'n superfluous! say, Whose footsteps these ?---Immortals have been here; Could less than souls immortal this have done? Earth's cover'd o'er with proofs of souls immortal, And proofs of immortality forgot.
To flatter thy grand foible, I confess
These are Ambition's works; and these are great:
But this, the least immortal souls can do,
Dost ask me what?---one sigh for the distrest.
Transcend them all.---But what can these transcend?
What then for Infidels? a deeper sigh.
'Tis moral grandeur makes the mighty man.
How little they who think aught great below?
All our ambitions death defeats but one,
And that it crowns.---Here cease we; but, ere long,
More powerful proof shall take the field against thee,
Stronger than death, and smiling at the tomb.
THE COMPLAINT: OR, NIGHT-THOUGHTS.
BELL'S EDITION
The POETS of GREAT BRITAIN
COMPLETE, FROM CHAUCER to CHURCHILL.
YOUNG VOLUME II. Deifts! perform your quarantine; and then Fall proftrate, ére you touch it,left you die.
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