Next on the solid Parts, I cast my Eye,
Did vast scorcht Desarts spie;
Which untamed Beasts, and Monsters bred,
By them alone inhabited,
I saw huge Mountains of uncommon Earth,
Some belcht with Terror forth;
A sulpherous Smoak,
Loud as amazing Thunder spoke,
From the unexhausted Bowels came,
Ashes and Stones, evacuated by Flame;
Remote from these are frigid Mountains too;
Thick cloth'd in fleecy Snow.
Some by restringent Air congeal'd as hard,
As if with Adamantine barr'd:
Stupendious Rocks of hideous Stones I found,
Whose dangerous Heads, lean'd o're the threaten'd Ground.
Deep in Earths center, far from human sight,
I search'd with intellectual Light;
(Pierc'd to the gloomy Ray,
Where subterrenean Fires, in silence play,
Like the faint Glimps of an imprison'd Day.)
Where unmolested Streams with gentle force,
Press, to their Primeveal source;
And sometimes upward, gush thro' poreous Earth,
Give to the healing Baths, a useful Birth;)
In its more wealthy parts, the Minerals lay,
And ponderous Mettals, shining Nerves display:
In her bright Bowels, radient Gems remains,
Till cruel Man dissects, and rends her Saphir vains.
With Grief and Wonder I behold,
The Noble, but mischevious Gold;
Oh! with what Toil, and mighty Pain,
Men the inchanting Mettle gain.
This Tyrant Clay Lords it o'er human kind,
Tho' they themselves in dirt, at first the Monarch find;
Lets their Stupidity, no more upbraid,
Who worshipp'd Gods, which their own Hands had made,
Since we're by Gold to greater Crimes betray'd.
Our Country, Faith, Friends, Honour for its sold,
Nay, Heaven and Love, is sacrafic'd to Gold;
We're worse Idolaters, than they,
Who only Homage gave; since we mischeviously obey.