•45^ Microscopical Essays, 



Let no prefuming impious railer tax 



Creative Wifdom, as if aught was form'd 



In vain, or not for admirable ends. 



Shall little haughty Ignorance pronounce 



His works un wife, of which the fmalleft part 



Exceeds the narrow virion of her mind? 



As if upon a full proportion'd dome, 



On fwelling columns heav'd, the pride of art ! 



A critic fly, whofe feeble ray fcarce fp reads 



An inch around, with blind prefumption bold, 



Should dare to tax the ftruclure of the whole. 



And lives the man, whofe univerfal eye 



Has fwept at once th' unbounded fcheme of things; 



Mark'd their dependance fo, and firm accord, 



As with unfaultering accent to conclude 



That this availeth nought ? Has any feen 



The mighty chain of beings leffening down 



From infinite perfection to the brink 



Of dreary nothing, defolate abyfs ! 



From which aftonifb'd thought, recoiling, turns ? 



Till then alone let zealous praife afcend, 



And hymns of holy wonder, to that Power, 



Whofe wifdom mines as lovely on our minds, 



As on our fmiling eyes his fervant fun, 



Thompson. 



Animal- 



