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Show ORIGIN OF SOCIETY. CA'NTO I. ss Contractile earths in sentient forms arrange, And Life triumphant stays their chemic change.'' 420 Then hand in hand along thG waving glades The virgin Sisters pass beneath the shades; Ascend the winding steps with pausing march, And seek the Portico's susurrant arch; Whose scu1ptur'd architrave on columns borne Drinks the first blushes of the rising morn, Whose fretted roof an ample shield displays, And guards the Beau ties from meridian rays. While on light step enamour' d Zephyr springs, And fans their glowing features with his wings, lrnbibes the fragrance of the vernal flowers, And speeds with kisses sweet the dancing Hours. 430 account of the opinions of the magi or p:r:iests of that country; showing that the simplest animation~ were spontaneously produced like ·chemical combinations, but were distinguished from the latter by their perpetual improvement by the power of reproductjon, first by solitary, and then by sexual generation; whereas the products of natural chemistry are only enlarged by accretion, or purified by filtration. CA N'fO I. PRODUCTION OF LIFE. Urania, leaning with unstudied grace, Rests her white elbow on a column's base; Awhile reflecting takes her silent stand, Her fair cheek press'd upon her lily hand; / Then, as awaking from ideal trance, On the smooth floor her pausing steps advance, Waves high her arm, upturns her lucid eyes, Marks the wide scenes of ocean, earth, and skies; 440 And leads, meandering as it rolls along Through Nature's walks, the shining stream of Song. First her sweet voice in plaintive accents chains The Muse's ear ·with fascinating strains; Reverts awhile to elemental strife, The change of form, and brevity of life; Then tells how potent Love with torch sublime Relights the glimmering lamp, and conquers Time. -The polish' d walls reflect her rosy smiles, And sweet-ton'd echoes talk along the ailes. 450 END OF CANTO I. |
