16 



Bacon, of Tycho Brahe, Descartes and Huyghens, of 

 Fermat, Newton, and Leibnitz. 



Let me illustrate this view by another striking ex- 

 ample. The establishment of the progressive Trwtion of 

 light, by Olaus Eoemer in 1675 — scarcely more than a 

 year after the death of John Milton — opened new views 

 of the universe. The singular historical state into 

 which creation was thrown by this discovery, was well 

 calculated to produce a powerful' impression on the 

 imagination. We accordingly find this idea vivifying 

 the poetic aspirations of the succeeding century. Thus, 

 the author of the " Pleasures of Imagination" speaks of 

 the starry sphere : 



"And fields of radiance, whose unfading light 

 Has travell'd the profound six thousand years, 

 Nor yet arrives in sight of mortal things." 



In the same manner, the general recognition of the 

 Newtonian system of universal mutual attraction found 

 a hearty response in the poetical inspirations of the 

 Eighteenth Century. The writings of Pope afford 

 numerous illustrations of the fertility of this step in 

 developing the imaginative faculties. 



♦'And, if each system in gradation roll 

 Alike essential to th' amazing whole, 

 The least confusion but in one, not all 

 That system only, but the whole must fall." 



Also, Akenside, speaking of the influence of the sun, 



*' Beholds his unrelenting sway 

 Bend the reluctant planets to absolve 

 The fated rounds of Time." 



These examples are sufficient to show, that the great 

 accession made to the general mass of scientific know- 



