108
THE TRIUMPHS
Flying o'er lucid orbs, whose distant light
Yet has not reach'd the scope of human sight;
And now, not distant from the bounds of space,
The guardian sprite suspends their rapid race;
And, while in deep amaze the nymph admires
The circling meteors' inoffensive fires,
Pleas'd at her wonder, the mild Power addrest,
With kind intelligence, her earthly guest:—
"Of those three orbs, that in yon crystal sphere
A separate system in themselves appear,
The last, whose luminous and steady form
Shines softly bright and moderately warm,
Contains my palace, and the gentle train
Whom I have wafted to this pure domain.
At equal distance my dominions lie
From these two larger worlds, more near thine eye:
Observe their difference as our wheels advance,
And passing, take of each a transient glance."
So speaking, to the grosser globe she sprung,
Her car suspended o'er its surface hung,
Yet has not reach'd the scope of human sight;
And now, not distant from the bounds of space,
The guardian sprite suspends their rapid race;
And, while in deep amaze the nymph admires
The circling meteors' inoffensive fires,
Pleas'd at her wonder, the mild Power addrest,
With kind intelligence, her earthly guest:—
"Of those three orbs, that in yon crystal sphere
A separate system in themselves appear,
The last, whose luminous and steady form
Shines softly bright and moderately warm,
Contains my palace, and the gentle train
Whom I have wafted to this pure domain.
At equal distance my dominions lie
From these two larger worlds, more near thine eye:
Observe their difference as our wheels advance,
And passing, take of each a transient glance."
So speaking, to the grosser globe she sprung,
Her car suspended o'er its surface hung,
