110 Here glittering turrets rise, upbearing high 115 And prop the pile they but adorned before. Here grotto within grotto safe defies The growing wonder takes a thousand shapes The sun-beam. There emboss'd and fretted wild Capricious, in which fancy seeks in vain The likeness of some object seen before. As she with all her rules can never reach. Less worthy of applause though more admired, Because a novelty, the work of man, Imperial mistress of the fur-clad Russ! Thy most magnificent and mighty freak, ✦ 'Twas nature's will; who sometimes undertakes, For the reproof of human vanity, Art to outstrip in her peculiar walk. The pillar'd vestibule, Expanding yet precise, the roof Excursion, p. 263. Might seem design'd to humble man, when proud Of his best workmanship by plan and tool. Wordsworth. Second Sonn. on Staffa. The sport of nature, aided by blind chance Excursion, p. 101. 120 125 130 The wonder of the north. No forest fell When thou would'st build; no quarry sent its stores To enrich thy walls: but thou didst hew the floods, The gloomy clouds find weapons, arrowy sleet3 Silently as a dream the fabric rose. No sound of hammer or of saw was there. Were soon conjoined, nor other cement ask'd 135 140 145 150 Gleamed through the clear transparency, that seemed 5 Sharp sleet of arrowy showers. Par. Reg. iii. 324. Iron sleet of arrowy shower. Gray. 155 6 There was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building. 1 Kings, vi. 7. 7 As when the sun new risen. Par. Lost, i. 594. That royal residence might well befit, For grandeur or for use. Of flowers that feared no Long wavy wreaths enemy but warmth, Blushed on the pannels. Mirror needed none 160 Where all was vitreous, but in order due Convivial table and commodious seat (What seemed at least commodious seat,) were there, Sofa and couch and high-built throne august. The same lubricity was found in all, 165 And all was moist to the warm touch, a scene Of evanescent glory, once a stream, And soon to slide into a stream again. Alas! 'twas but a mortifying stroke 170 On human grandeur and the courts of kings. Intrinsically precious: to the foot 175 Treacherous and false, it smiled and it was cold. Great princes have great playthings. Some have played At hewing mountains into men, and some 180 See Kircher's description of the Grotto of Antiparos, in Goldsmith's Nat. vol. i. c. 8. In several places magnificent columns, thrones, altars, and other objects appeared, as if nature had designed to mock the curiosities of art. &c. By pyramids and mausolean pomp, Short-lived themselves, to immortalize their bones. And make the sorrows of mankind their sport. When Babel was confounded, and the great And equal, and he bade them dwell in peace. 185 190 195 200 205 Peace was awhile their care. They plough'd and sow'd They to their grassy couch, these to their nests. Par. Lost, iv. 601. 210 Of his descending progeny was found And those in self-defence. 215 220 These fought for spoil, Savage at first The onset, and irregular. At length One eminent above the rest, for strength, Was chosen leader. Him they served in war, And him in peace for Reverenced no less. sake of warlike deeds 225 230 Who could with him compare? Or who so worthy to controul themselves As he whose prowess had subdued their foes? Thus war affording field for the display Of virtue, made one chief, whom times of peace 10, No less renowned than war. Milton. Sonnet xvi. 236 240 |