278 Geological Poems. 



Ere these Rocks were all seated, the loud sounding call 



Of" Our places ! Our places!" rang shrill through the halh 



On hearing the noise, the Muse tura'd round her head. 



And saw Porphyry® and Eurite — their faces were red. 



Then Greenstone"^ and Sienite^ followed behind, — 33 



Their seats were bespoke (they said) tinie out of mind. 



Great Neptune rose up, and then swore in a rage 



That each rock should be seated according to age; 



** But let those (where the register cannot be found 



Either under the water or on the dry ground) 4i) 



Not presume to take regular seats at the table, 



But change places with others, whenever they 're able," 



Thus the last-mentioned rocks were obliged to retire, 



Though their ages were book'd in the office of fire : 



(This they said,) but no soul would go there to inquire. - 45 



Leaning over old Gneiss and the Slate-rocks they stood, 



Or else pressM between them, whenever they could. 



Gay Serpentine^, clad in a livery of green. 



At Mica-slate's feet during dinner >vas seen j 



Among the first class it was publicly said, 



He had often been found fast asleep in her bed. 



When these rocks were thus settled, and quiet restored, 



The others more orderly march'd to the board. 



Say, Muse, who is he that is just walking in ? 



O ! his name is as harsh and as rough as his skiu, 65 



lie's a cousin of Slate, but he looks wild and cracky, 



And is known as the far-famed illustrious Grau-Wacce.* ** 



Younger Slate-rocks, with Sand-stone, then came side by side. 



And he, the Great Limestone, of limestones the pride, 59 



Who has caves with wild echos resounding and vocal, 



And is called by the masons grey marble entrocliaL 



T!ie next were a grave-looking set on the whole, 



Who came in a group to accompany Coal. 



Coarse grit-stones, with sand-stones, and clay -binds, and shale, 



Some were hard, some were soft, some were dingy, some pale; 65 



6 For the composition of Porphyry see Geolcgicai Cookery. — Eurite ; se# 

 Primer. 



7 Greenstone ; see Diabase, Primer. 



8 Sieuite. — A rock similar to Granite, but containing a mixture of a dark 

 mineral called Hornblende. 



9 Serpentine, the prevailing colour of this rock is green. It often occurs 

 imbedded in Mica-slate. 





10 Slate appears to pass by gradation into coarse grit stone, by the luix- 

 .-re and increase of Quartzy or sandy particles, and is then called Grau- 

 "VVacce. The French GeoIog:ists class Grau-Wacce and many of the Sand- 

 stones together, under the name of Psammite, and more recently under 

 that of Thaumite, These terms are no improvemeDt either in senfie or 

 sound. 



