THE FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE 223 



In the following passage the idea is more fully 

 carried out, and man is viewed through a vista which 

 science alone has laid open; yet how absolutely a 

 work of the creative imagination is revealed : — 



"I am an acme of things accomplish' d, and I am incloser of 



things to be. 

 My feet strike an apex of the apices of the stairs ; 

 On every step bunches of ages, and larger bunches between 



the steps; 

 All below duly travel'd, and still I mount and mount. 



" Rise after rise bow the phantoms behind me ; 

 Afar down I see the huge first Nothing — I know I was even 



there ; 

 I waited unseen and always, and slept through the lethargic 



mist. 

 And took my time, and took no hurt from the foetid carbon. 



"Long I was hugg'd close — long and long, 

 Immense have been the preparations for me, 

 Faithful and friendly the arms that have help'd me, 

 Cycles ferried my cradle, rowing and rowing like cheerful boat- 

 men; 

 For room to me stars kept aside in their own rings ; 

 They sent influences to look after what was to hold me. 



" Before I was born out of my mother, generations guided me ; 



My embryo has never been torpid — nothing could overlay it, 



For it the nebula cohered to an orb, 



The long low strata piled to rest it on, 



Vast vegetables gave it sustenance, 



Monstrous sauroids transported it in their mouths, and depos- 

 ited it with care ; 



All forces have been steadily employ'd to complete and delight 

 me: 



Now on this spot I stand with my robiist Soul." 



I recall no single line of poetry in the language 

 that fiUs my imagination like that beginning the 

 third verse : — 



