53 



shapes, pursuing various changes, none occurring but existence 

 still compels; all enduring in their present, or in other forms, be- 

 cause existence has no poiver to be nothing. 



51. The stars are yet upheld ; great bulks we must acknowledge 

 them, apparently above us; and they fall not, though propped only 

 by light etherial columns. Who shall say why they keep their 

 spheres? who shall say what they are; whether constant, or at 

 periods produced by agents which we do not know, in worlds 

 teeming with things and processes of which we here find no 

 examples? They govern not themselves, but are obedient to their 

 own constituents; there, too, existences are causes, and all we 

 contemplate in them is yet compelled, effected by existence. 



52. The sun is present, and imparts to us both light and heat; 

 it is formed by its own causes; these, or its grosser forms, by others, 

 an endless chain. In turn it sends to us some causes, which it 

 well can spare: to us it sheds existence, which mingles with our 

 substances and creates new forms. 



53. The sea possesses by a natural right, the deep dominions 

 over which it rolls. This vast property it claims by force of causes 

 which with it abide; it seeks the lowest parts, and terrifies its con- 

 fines all around by bold incursions on the soil which man calls his; 

 it foams and dashes against great rocks, a bulwark formed to check 

 its aggrandizing spirit, and make its waters still recoil upon itself. 

 Fruitless ambition! thy powers have but their scope; and further, 

 earth is too mighty for tliee, as it, in thy dominions, and all its 

 fine productions, are but a weakness, serving for thy pastime. 



54. Myriads of waves roar and froth, or, gliding smoothly, 

 glitter in the sun upon thy melting bosom. Not one of these that 

 moves, but moves as 'tis impelled; it, passive, an effect; in turn 

 impelling, then a cause; all more minutely propertied ; each par- 

 ticle which we suppose, but cannot see, of the same quality with 

 the whole: fluid and salt; one while upbearing, then yielding; at 

 one time pleasant and salutary for those of a different element, at 

 another, threatening, overwhelming, and destructive; now, trans- 

 porting rich freights in safety to the shores, dispensing wealth and 

 luxury, then swallowing without remorse, this merchandize (the 

 sovereign curse of nations), and bringing ruin, as indeed is just, on 

 those who rest their hopes and fortunes on such trash. Thou, too 

 great sea! endless in thy relations. 



55. Thy movements observe a method even in their roughness : 

 one while thy waves overstep their present limits, the pebbles on 

 the strand are seen no more, thy presence hides them, and they 

 chafe and fret, obscurely warring with each other, where no witness 

 is to tell the fate and history which must belong to each. They, 

 by their causes, are, where we observe them, still passive; they are 

 removed, or broken, or rest, or remain a whole; or are collected, 

 some fused, some ground on roads and then manure the fields; or 

 else are washed along, DOW backwards, then onwards again, 



