Fair deities of limpid pool and spring, The watercourse that through the valleys run; Cold, dropping wells, that give their offering, With rivulets that sparkle in the sun, Wind among hills the sunny glare to shun, From these fresh virgin founts, rivers arise, The rolling Danube’s swelling course began, Wide spreading Ganges, found ’neath eastern skies, While dark Missouri flowed, proud as the swarth Ind’s eyes. LI. “Thus have I shown ye,” spake at last their guide, “The hidden wonders of the earth’s deep veins, To where my Lord Dan Fantasy doth glide, When the calm spirit of reflection reigns; And lonely solitude, here sought, obtains; Marvels of Nature’s secret working seen, Which I have e’en disclosed with muckle pains, Knowledge with pleasure as ye scann’d each scene, This was the object dear unto my heart I ween.” LII. With that the attentive group he onward led, By other path, a steep ascending way, Travelling thro’ gloom, a dusky twilight spread; Nor dark, nor light, an intermittent ray, That show’d far off a speck like glimpse of day; To which wished point their eager footsteps bend, Like those who thro’ a lengthened cavern stray, Right pleased when they can just descry the end, Then urge their laggard speed, with freshened spirits wend. LIII. Th’ outlet found of this their arduous toil, Far distant seen, though now at last attained, With expectation raised ’neath sweat and moil, As those who through a wood intricate, gained Some lofty eminence; where, unrestrained, The widening prospect opened to their view; Such champaign fair the eager troop far-kenned, Luxuriant spread, hill, mountain, valley drew The eyes’ fond gaze; that swept the deep unclouded blue. LIV. Cities and towns with lofty turrets rose, The busy haunts of man with commerce spread, Seen on the horizon’s verge in soft repose, With forest huge that lifts its waving head, And sinuous course of mighty streams thus led, That fertile flowed to irrigate the land, Majestic bounding swell’d the ocean bed; To these the kindling poet waved the hand, Their panoramic beauties drew with accents bland. LV. “To these I will your mute attention claim,” (At which his listening audit’ry gave ear), “While thus I draw by pleasant paths my aim, And make instruction more invite appear; I do propose to bring your vision near, That we descend this green mount’s sloping side, Myself each object may define more clear, For ’tis my _art_, in which I do confide, To give the ideal life a local name beside. LVI.