Microscopical Essays. 



43 



that it is the eye that fees. The telefcope is an artificial organ 

 of fight, but it fees not. The eye is a natural organ of fight, by 

 which we fee ; but the natural organ fees as little as the artificial. 



The eye is a machine, molt admirably contrived for refracting 

 the rays of light, and forming a diftinct picture of objects upon 

 the retina; but it fees neither the object nor the picture. It can 

 Form .the picture after it is taken out of the head, but no vifion 

 enfues. Even when it is in it's proper place, and perfectly found, 

 it is well known, that an obftruction in the optic nerve takes 

 away vifion, though the eye has performed all that belongs to it * 



For ufelefs was this textur'd f wonder made, 

 Were nature, beauteous object ! undifplayed ; 

 Thofe both in vain, the object and the fight, 

 Wrapt from the radiance of revealing light ; 

 As vain the bright illuminating beam, 

 "Unwanted by the medium's airy ftream : 

 Yet vain the textur'd eye, and object fair, 

 The funny luftre, and continuous air ; 

 Annull'd and blank this grand illuftrious fcene, s 

 All, all it's grace and lifelefs glories vain ; 

 Till from th' Eternal fprung this effluent foul, 

 Form'd to infpect, and comprehend the whole. J 



F 2 Of 



* Reid on the Intelle&ual Powers of Man, p. 78* 

 + The eye. 



'% Brooke's Univerfal Beauty, p. 88. 



