86 ORIGIN OF SOCIETY. CANTO in. 



Now in sweet tones the inquiring Muse express'd 

 Her ardent wish; and thus the Fair acldress'd. 

 " Priestess of Nature! whose exploring sight 

 Pierces the realms of Chaos and of Night ; 

 Of space unmeasured marks the first and last, 

 Of endless time the present, future, past; 40 



Immortal Guide! O, now with accents kind 

 Give to my ear the progress of the Mind. 

 How loves, and tastes, and sympathies commence 

 From evanescent notices of sense ? 

 How from the yielding touch and rolling eyes 

 The piles immense of human science rise? 

 With mind gigantic steps the puny Elf r 

 And weighs and measures .all things but himself!" 



The indulgent Beauty hears the grateful Muse, 

 Smiles on her pupil, and her task renews. 50 



Attentive Nymphs in sparkling squadrons throng, 

 And choral Virgins listen to the song; 



