From these, and all long errors of the way, In which our wandering predecessors went, And, like the old Hebrews, many years did stray In deserts, but of small extent, 90 Bacon! like Moses, led us forth at last; The barren wilderness he passed, Did on the very border stand Of the blessed Promised Land, And from the mountain’s top of his exalted wit, 95 Saw it himself, and showed us it. But life did never to one man allow Time to discover worlds, and conquer too; Nor can so short a line sufficient be To fathom the vast deeps of Nature’s sea: 100 The work he did we ought to admire, And were unjust if we should more require From his few years, divided ’twixt the excess Of low affliction and high happiness: For who on things remote can fix his sight, 105 That’s always in a triumph or a fight? From you, great champions! we expect to get These spacious countries but discovered yet; Countries where yet, instead of Nature, we Her images and idols worshipped see: 110 These large and wealthy regions to subdue, Though Learning has whole armies at command, Quartered about in every land, A better troop she ne’er together drew. Methinks, like Gideon’s little band, 115 God with design has picked out you, To do these noble wonders by a few. When the whole host He saw, they are, said He, Too many to o’ercome for Me: And now He chooses out his men, 120 Much in the way that He did then: Not those many, whom He found Idly extended on the ground, To drink, with their dejected head, The stream, just so as by their mouths it fled: 125 No; but those few who took the waters up, And made of their laborious hands the cup. Thus you prepared, and in the glorious fight Their wondrous pattern too you take: Their old and empty pitchers first they brake, 130 And with their hands then lifted up the light. Iö! sound too the trumpets here! Already your victorious lights appear; New scenes of heaven already we espy, And crowds of golden worlds on high, 135 Which from the spacious plains of earth and sea Could never yet discovered be By sailor’s or Chaldean’s watchful eye. Nature’s great works no distance can obscure, No smallness her near objects can secure: 140 You’ have taught the curious sight to press Into the privatest recess Of her imperceptible littleness: You’ have learned to read her smallest hand, And well begun her deepest sense to understand. 145