THE REVIVAL OF SCIENCE 305 



a school of two hundred boys. Both these 

 schemes, according to Bishop Sprat, hastened 

 the foundation of the Royal Society, of which 

 both projectors were original members. 



Cowley's poems were greatly admired during 

 his lifetime, later critics have considered him 

 affected, perhaps because, like Donne, he under- 

 stood, and was not afraid to use, the technical 

 language of the schools. We have quoted some 

 of his lines on Harvey, and may add a few from 

 the ode with which he greeted the birth of the' 

 Royal Society : 



" From ... all long Errors of the way, 

 In which our wand' ring Praedecessors went, 

 And like th' old Hebrews many years did stray 



In Desarts but of small extent, 

 Bacon, like Moses, led us forth at last 



The barren Wilderness he past, 



Did on the very Border stand 



Of the blest promis'd Land, 

 And from the Mountains Top of his Exalted Wit, 



Saw it himself, and shew'd us it. 

 But Life did never to one Man allow 

 Time to Discover Worlds, and Conquer too ; 

 Nor can so short a Line sufficient be 

 To fadome the vast depths of Natures Sea : 



The work he did we ought t' admire 

 And were unjust if we should more require 

 From his few years, divided 'twixt th' Excess 

 Of low Affliction, and high Happiness. 



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