446 COLLOQUIA ENTOMOLOGICA. 



Scene V. — Another part of the Wood, very shaded. 



Cuvier and Aristoteles reclining on the ground. 



Cuvier. Among the errors mortals still commit, of those 

 who follow science' paths I speak, the chiefest seems to me that 

 doubtful line they draw 'twixt Nature's self and Nature's God : 

 Nature they worship as a sovereign power, distinct and inde- 

 pendent; nor admit God the great cause, and Nature the 

 effect. 



Aristoteles. God is Creator, Nature his create : life, 

 light, and being, emanate from him. How is it that the human 

 intellect can dare to doubt so obvious a truth ? 'Tis but a 

 pagan fable, that would make a ruling nature, deify a work ; 

 yet Cuvier says,- — immortal Cuvier says, and saying, seems 

 by heaven itself inspired, — that Nature thus demonstrates her 

 results, and things like these (jyointing to a group of mam- 

 moths) are her experiments. 



Cuv. And Nature is not ! — where then was the good of 

 thus deluding others with a dream ? 



Aris. O ! were it possible again to stray to yonder earth, 

 forsaking these bright realms, and pour out all the knowledge 

 we have gained, to unfold the beautiful and simple plan on 

 which the Omnipotent has made all these wonderful forms 

 linking together oft beings, whose structure made e'en Cuvier 

 pause ; the patient camel, isolate no more, the tall giraffe, and 

 that strange paradox, to me unknown, except from thy dis- 

 course, now become links, which wanting, the great plan would 

 seem imperfect. 



Cuv. Thou dear enthusiast ! pause not — ■ 



Aris. I must pause ; the thought has vanished ere it was 

 a wish. 



Cuv. 'Tis not impossible for man to learn the mighty plan 

 on which the whole is formed, and it is best that he himself 

 should learn, without a visit from departed souls. Newton has 

 done as much — laid down the laws by which the Almighty 

 governs rolling worlds ; and others long before had dimly seen 

 the obvious dawnings of the mighty truth. 



Aris. The boundary line how slight that separates e'en 





