To the unenlightened Swains of pagan Greece.

In that fair Clime, the lonely Herdsman, stretched On the soft grass through half a summer's day, With music lulled his indolent repose:

And, in some fit of weariness, if he,

When his own breath was silent, chanced to hear
A distant strain, far sweeter than the sounds
Which his poor skill could make, his Fancy fetched,
Even from the blazing Chariot of the Sun,

A beardless Youth, who touched a golden lute,
And filled the illumined groves with ravishment.
The nightly Hunter, lifting up his eyes

Towards the crescent Moon, with grateful heart
Called on the lovely wanderer who bestowed
That timely light, to share his joyous sport:
And hence, a beaming Goddess with her Nymphs,
Across the lawn and through the darksome grove
(Not unaccompanied with tuneful notes

By echo multiplied from rock or cave)

Swept in the storm of chase, as Moon and Stars
Glance rapidly along the clouded heaven,

When winds are blowing strong. The Traveller slaked

His thirst from Rill or gushing Fount, and thanked

The Naiad. Sunbeams, upon distant Hills

Gliding apace, with Shadows in their train,

Might, with small help from fancy, be transformed
Into fleet Oreads sporting visibly.

The Zephyrs, fanning as they passed, their wings,
Lacked not, for love, fair Objects, whom they wooed
With gentle whisper. Withered Boughs grotesque,
Stripped of their leaves and twigs by hoary age,
From depth of shaggy covert peeping forth
In the low vale, or on steep mountain side;
And, sometimes, intermixed with stirring horns
Of the live Deer, or Goat's depending beard,
These were the lurking Satyrs, a wild brood
Of gamesome Deities; or Pan himself,
The simple Shepherd's awe-inspiring God!"

As this apt strain proceeded, I could mark Its kindly influence, o'er the yielding brow Of our Companion, gradually diffused;

While, listening, he had paced the noiseless turf,
Like one whose untired ear a murmuring stream
Detains; but tempted now to interpose,

He with a smile exclaimed

"'Tis well you speak

At a safe distance from our native Land,

And from the Mansions where our youth was taught.

The true Descendants of those godly Men

Who swept from Scotland, in a flame of zeal,
Shrine, Altar, Image, and the massy Piles

That harboured them, — the Souls retaining yet

The churlish features of that after Race

Who fled to caves, and woods, and naked rocks,
In deadly scorn of superstitious rites,

Or what their scruples construed to be such-
How, think you, would they tolerate this scheme
Of fine propensities, that tends, if urged
Far as it might be urged, to sow afresh
The weeds of Romish Phantasy, in vain
Uprooted; would re-consecrate our Wells
To good Saint Fillan and to fair Saint Anne;
And from long banishment recall Saint Giles,
To watch again with tutelary love

O'er stately Edinborough throned on crags ?
A blessed restoration, to behold

The Patron, on the shoulders of his Priests,

Once more parading through her crowded streets;
Now simply guarded by the sober Powers

Of Science, and Philosophy, and Sense!"

This answer followed. "You have turned my thoughts

Upon our brave Progenitors, who rose

Against Idolatry with warlike mind,

And shrunk from vain observances, to lurk
In caves, and woods, and under dismal rocks,
Deprived of shelter, covering, fire, and food;
Why? - for this very reason that they felt,
And did acknowledge, wheresoe'er they moved,
A spiritual Presence, oft-times misconceived;
But still a high dependence, a divine

Bounty and government, that filled their hearts
With joy, and gratitude, and fear, and love;
And from their fervent lips drew hymns of praise,
That through the desert rang. Though favoured less,
Far less, than these, yet such, in their degree,
Were those bewildered Pagans of old time.
Beyond their own poor Natures and above
They looked; were humbly thankful for the good
Which the warm Sun solicited and Earth

Bestowed; were gladsome,— and their moral sense
They fortified with reverence for the Gods;
And they had hopes that overstepp'd the Grave.

Now, shall our great Discoverers," he exclaimed, Raising his voice triumphantly, "obtain

From Sense and Reason less than These obtained, Though far misled? Shall Men for whom our Age Unbaffled powers of vision hath prepared,

To explore the world without and world within,
Be joyless as the blind? Ambitious Souls -
Whom Earth, at this late season, hath produced
To regulate the moving spheres, and weigh
The planets in the hollow of their hand;
And They who rather dive than soar, whose pains
Have solved the elements, or analysed

The thinking principle-shall They in fact
Prove a degraded Race? and what avails
Renown, if their presumption make them such?
Oh! there is laughter at their work in Heaven!
Inquire of ancient Wisdom; go, demand
Of mighty Nature, if 'twas ever meant
That we should pry far off yet be unraised;
That we should pore, and dwindle as we pore,
Viewing all objects unremittingly

In disconnexion dead and spiritless;
And still dividing, and dividing still,
Break down all grandeur, still unsatisfied
With the perverse attempt, while littleness
May yet become more little; waging thus
An impious warfare with the very life

Of our own souls! And if indeed there be

An all-pervading Spirit, upon whom

Our dark foundations rest, could He design