LINNiEUS EXPLORES LAPLAND. 



_T i r'd by the charms of Nature's reign, 

 View the bold sage advent'rous stray: 



Rude storms around him rage in vain, 

 And torrents cross his dang'rous way. 



Alone beside the roaring main 



'Mid shelving rocks he loves to roam, 



Where craggy cliffs, and caverns wide, 

 Re-bellow to the whitening foam. 



Nor flies the fowl, nor mid the deeps 

 Swim in bright maze the silver brood, 



Nor springs the plant, nor insect creeps, 

 That can his piercing glance elude. 



New scenes his raptur'd sight surveys 



Amid Lapponia's peaceful soil; 

 And while with ardent zeal he strays, 



Fair science crowns his pleasing toil. 



Through many a forest dark and drear, 

 O'er many a desert's trackless side, 



With fearless foot he ranges round 



With Heaven and Nature for his guide. 



Now to yon mountain's airy height 



With look elate behold him rise, 

 And view with still increas'd delight 



A midnight sun illume the skies. 



The simple swain with wond'ring eye 

 Beholds him spring with eager bound ; 



Chase with fleet steps the noxious fly, 

 Or pore upon the moss-clad ground. 



Now down Lulea's haunted stream 

 His vent'rous bark pursues its way, 



While round the waving meteors gleam, 

 And cataracts urge their dashing spray. 



Hail Nature's boast! triumphant sage! 



Whom distant cent'ries shall admire ; 

 Whose name, rever'd through ev'ry age, 



Shall never but with time expire ! 



Shaw. 





