CAVE OF STAFFA.

THANKS for the lessons of this spot, fit school

For the presumptuous thoughts that would assign

Mechanic laws to agency divine, And, measuring heaven by earth, would overrule

Infinite power. The pillared vestibule,

Expanding yet precise, the roof embowed,

Might seem designed to humble man, when proud

Of his best workmanship by plan and tool.

Down-bearing with his whole Atlantic weight

Of tide and tempest on the structure's base,

And flashing upwards to its topmost height,

Ocean has proved its strength, and of its grace

In calms is conscious, finding for his freight

Of softest music some responsive place.

WORDSWORTH.

Glide on, in the glory and gladness sent,

To the farthest wall of the firmament,

The boundless visible smile of Him, To the veil of whose brow your lamps are dim."

BRYANT.

THE MILKY WAY.

"Lo," quoth he, "cast up thine
eye,

See yonder, lo! the galaxie,
The which men clepe the Milky Way,
For it is white; and some parfay
Callen it Watling streete,

That once was brent with the hete,
When the Sunne's sonne the rede,
That hight Phaeton, would lead
Algate his father's cart, and gie.*

66

The cart horses gan well aspie,
That he could no governaunce,
And gan for to leape and praunce,
And bear him up, and now down,
Till he saw the Scorpioun,
Which that in Heaven a signe is yet,
And for feré lost his wit

Of that, and let the reynés gone
Of his horses, and they anone
Soone up to mount, and downe de-
scend,

Till both air and Earthé brend,
Till Jupiter, lo! at the last
Him slew, and fro the carté cast.
CHAUCER.