Thus may the much-forced mind of high-born youth
Prove to the rearer's hand a plant ingrate :
While that which nature nourishes in sooth

But partial culture asks to reach the heights of truth.

. VI.

Unlike the roll that in the heavens appeared,
(Wherein and eke without were written " woe
"And lamentation,") to the Seer revered,

Is the bright volume Wisdom shows us now,
Where joy and truth in brilliant colours glow.
Inquiry nerves the mind and quickens thought,

The source from which our purest pleasures flow. Bounds to research there are which spirits fraught With learning's stores would pass; in vain, their efforts end in nought.

VII.

The mind that thus its boundaries would pass
Is as a restless creature in its cage:
On unforbidden ground though much it has
Yet to acquire; still science may engage
Its fullest powers, or Niebuhr's * novel page!
Much to unlearn we have, and more to learn

As here we journey on to life's last stage,
Within the confines of our route; why yearn

For mysteries which to know e'en Seraphs vainly burn?

• The celebrated, indefatigable, and liberal German Historian of Rome.

VIII.

Yet to the Sabbath those who toil will look,
And the seal'd volume of a world unseen
For man has greater charms than Nature's book,
Though there are pages for inspection keen
Unroll'd as yet: Geologists I ween
Have made but little progress in their lore!

What shall be known, compared with what has been,
Will be, as if a noon-day sun rose o'er
This earth, intenser light on favour'd man to pour.

IX.

Philosophy is like the ladder high

In Padan-Aram, when in vision blest
The Patriarch saw uprising to the sky
And then descending Angels, to his breast
Giving the promise of a glorious rest:
Thus, by thy aid, Philosophy, is man

Enabled to discern, though care-opprest,

His relative state of being, since began

Time to unfold his wings, and life's first current ran.

X.

Impregnating all space, and mind effused

From its great parent-stock through worlds above And worlds around this globe of ours diffused Those elements in which all creatures move

=!

-hot

What pleasure 'tis in mind to trace the ties,
Numerous as are the leaflets in a grove,
That join our quick sensations as they rise
Fast as each shadow brief along the mountain flies.

XI.

High metaphysics are as faintly seen

As the gigantic mountain's shadowy height
When twilight draws her veil o'er such a scene

As heaven unrolls on earth for man's delight,
Late glowing in the sunset's purple light :
All may distinctly gospel-truths behold,

They are with ever-living splendours bright;
Thus doth the noon-day sun in rays of gold
Along the fertile vale each object fair unfold.

XII.

The moral atmosphere doth lighten now
As with a paradise-clearness,-thus appear'd
The sky o'er Jordan's stream; a purple glow
Invested heaven and earth as Jesus near'd

That Prophet, whom the Triune effluence cheer'd. By man, (unsocial bigotry may frown,)

The bonds of brotherhood are more revered

Than in the olden times; is pride o'erthrown?

She quails, though on her head glitters the jewell'd crown.

XIII.

Life is a mystery, here we are placed

All on a level, wherefore vaunt the proud? Have they the genuine form of truth embraced? If not, in what do they excel the crowd Whom the thick-coming shades of error shroud? Oh! not to such vain spirits is it given To dissipate life's overhanging cloud, Or to direct for man the way to heaven! They have too much of earth's all-vitiating leaven.

XIV.

And strongly waxes now the word of God;
And very swiftly runneth through the world
Zeal, potent as the Seer's life-giving rod :
The banners of religion are unfurl'd

Far, and Aherman from his throne is hurl'd.
Through culture's aid the naked rocks may smile,
Mantled in emerald green, with dew impearl'd;
The seeds of truth shall ripen in each isle,
That now is rank with weeds of superstition vile.

XV.

Priestcraft in vain the flaming sword would turn On all around who dare invade her own

Peculiar Eden; noble spirits spurn

Her narrow laws, despise the bigot's frown,

And Tabernacles build for Truth alone! Religion, central sun, pours forth her light

O'er all the minor orbs of knowledge thrown; Man, conscious of his intellectual might,

Rejects heart-withering creeds, that would o'erpower right.