18 ORIGIN OF SOCIETY. CANTO i. 



High plumes, that bending shade her amber hair, 

 Nod, as she steps, their silver leaves in air; 

 Bright chains of pearl, with golden buckles brac'd, 

 Clasp her white neck, and zone her slender waist; 210 

 Thin folds of silk in soft meanders wind 

 Down her fine form, and undulate behind; 

 The purple border, on the pavement roll'd, 

 Swells in the gale, and spreads its fringe of gold. 



" FIRST, if you can, celestial Guide! disclose 

 From what fair fountain mortal life arose, 

 Whence the fine nerve to move and feel assign'd, 

 Contractile fibre, and ethereal mind: 



" How Love and Sympathy the bosom warm, 

 Allure with pleasure, and with pain alarm, 220 



With soft affections weave the social plan, 

 And charm the listening Savage into Man." 



