150 ORIGIN OF SOCIETY. CANTO iv. 



" Led by VOLITION on the banks of Nile 

 Where bloom'd the waving flax on Delta's isle, 

 Pleased Is is taught the fibrous stems to bind, 

 And part with hammers from the adhesive rind; 

 With locks of flax to deck the distaff-pole, 

 And whirl with graceful bend the dancing spole. 

 In level lines the length of woof to spread, 

 And dart the shuttle through the parting thread. 260 

 So ARKWRIGHT taught from Cotton-pods to cull, 

 And stretch in lines the vegetable wool; 

 With teeth of steel its fibre-knots unfurl'd, 



And with the silver tissue clothed the world. 



/ 



" Ages remote by thee, VOLITION, taught 

 Chain'd down in characters the winged thought; 

 With silent language mark'd the letter'd ground, 

 And gave to sight the evanescent sound. 



The waving far, 1. 254. Flax is said to have been first discovered 

 on the banks of the Nile, and Isis to have been the inventress of 

 spinning and weaving. 



So Arkwright taught, 1. 261. See Botanic Garden, Vol. II. 

 Canto II. 1. 87, Note. 



