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Show 6 ORIGIN OF SOCIETY. CANTO I. Four sparkling currents lav' d with wandering tides Their velvet avenues, and flowery sides; On sun-bright lawns unclad the Graces stray'd, And guiltless Cupids haunted every glade; 40 Till the fair Bride, forbidden shades an1ong, Heard unalarm'd the Tempter's serpent-tongue; Eyed the S\Veet fruit, the mandate disobey'd, And her fond Lord with sweeter smiles betray'd. Conscious awhile with throbbing heart he strove, Spread his wide arms, and barter' d life for love!Now rocks on rocks, in savage grandeur roll'd, Steep above steep, the blasted plains infold; The incumbent crags eternal tempest shrouds, And livid light'nings cleave the lambent clouds; 50 ot"hde r parts of the habitable earth ' as the lanOo' UaOo 'e of tl1e Cl1 1· nese I·S sa1 not ~o re~emble those of this part of the world in any respect. And th.e mhab1tants of the islands of the South-Sea had neither the hus cd of Jron tools, nor of the. bow' nor of wheels , no r o f sp.m nm. g, nor a . learned to coagulate milk, or to boil water, though the domesti-c. atlo~ of fire seems to have been the first great discover that distmgmshed mankind from the bestial inhabitants of the foi~st. CANTO I . PRODUCTION OF LIFE. Round the firm base loud-howling whirlwinds blow, And sands in burning eddies dance below. Hence ye profane !-the warring winds exclude Unhallow'd throngs, that press with footstep rude; But court the Muse's train with milder skies, And call with softer voice the good and wise. -Charm'd at her touch the opening wall divides, And rocks of crystal form the polish' d sides; ,.f hrough the bright arch the Loves and Graces tread 7 ' Innocuous thunders murmuring o'er their bead; 60 Pair after pair, and tittering, as they pass, View· their fair features in the walls of glass; Leave with impatient step the circling bourn, And hear behind the closing rocks return. HERE , high in air, unconscious of the storm, Thy temple, NATURE, rears it's mystic form; Fron1 earth to heav'n, unwrought by mortal toil, To·wers the vast fabric on the desert soil |