148 ORIGIN OF SOCIETY. CANTO iv. 



Give to proud Reason her comparing power, 

 Warm every clime, and brighten every hour. 

 In Life's first cradle, ere the dawn began 

 Of young Society to polish man ; 

 The staff that propp'd him, and the bow that arm'd, 

 The boat that bore him, and the shed that warm'd, 230 

 Fire, raiment, food, the ploughshare, and the sword, 

 Arose, VOLITION, at thy plastic word. 



" By thee instructed, NEWTON'S eye sublime 

 Mark'd the bright periods of revolving time; 

 Explored in Nature's scenes the effect and cause, 

 And, charm'd, unravell'd all her latent laws. 

 Delighted HERSCHEL with reflected Hghf 

 Pursues his radiant journey through the night; 

 Detects new guards, that roll their orbs afar 

 In lucid ringlets round the Georgian star. 240 



