62 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



will be given out, and in some other substances only 

 the red rays. This is the general principle upon which 

 we may account for the delight which the eye ex- 

 periences from that variety of colour which is seen in 

 its parts, in the various objects around us, but which is 

 contemplated as a whole in the magnificent splendor of 

 the ethereal bow. 



The theory, as well as the actual appearance of the 

 Rainbow, are thus beautifully depicted by Thomson in 

 his Poem to the memory of the Great Philosopher, whose 

 discoveries in the science of optics alone, would have 

 immortalized his name, — 



* Light itself, which every thing displays. 



Shone undiscovered, till his brighter mind 



Untwisted all the shining robe of day ; 



And, from the whitening undistinguish'd blaze. 



Collecting every ray into his kind. 



To the charm'd eye educed the gorgeous train 



Of parent colours. First, the flaming red 



Sprung vivid forth ; the tawny orange next ; 



And next delicious yellow ; by whose side 



Fell the kind beams of all refreshing green. 



Then the pure blue, that swells autumnal skies, 



Ethereal play'd : and then, of sadder hue. 



Emerged the deepen'd indigo, as when 



The heavy skirted evening droops with frost. 



While the last gleaming of refracted light 



Dy'd in the fainting violet away. 



