Fair nodding trees in varied foliage drest, Encircled yon smooth plat of fairy green, Where birds of Paradise, with golden crest, Sat on the boughs, in glossy plumage seen; The warbling choir poured forth from thicket’s screen Mellifluous song, that fill’d the charmed ear; Sweet odour-dropping flower did twine, and lean Its lovely head in wild profusion near, And drank in nectared dew that hung in pearl-drops clear. XCI. Here Nature’s fruitful store was lavish spread: The citron, pomegranate, luxurious hung, While burnish’d fly, by fragrant petals led, With velvet wing pursued its flight among Flowers, and dainties that Pomona flung; ’Twas such like scene _his_[A] wand’ring footsteps drew To wilds of Surinam, ’mid branches slung, The wood-bird’s song to learn, their habits view-- From morn to dewy eve his loved task did pursue. XCII. That sweet enclosure’s soft enchanting mead Did so delight the crowd to linger there, That they at once like children take the lead, Joyous to roam withouten fear or care, Pursuit of pastime eagerly to share, Or breathe the vernal gale. There branches hung With fruit in clust’ring ripeness did appear; While notes that through the woods melodious rung, Like aerial music heard through fairy island sung. XCIII. They still had lingered ’neath harmonious sound, Nor cared they from that valley sweet to part, Where lovely verdure overspread the ground; Though called to leave, they left with heavy heart, As their right trusty guide began to start, For other knowledge he must needs explore-- Pursuits of man make known, and works of art; Yet Nature, boundless, has a teeming store, Which time would not permit that he should tell them more. XCIV. “With microscopic eye we might explore The insect world, o’erlaid with scales of gold; Th’ aqueous deep, with all its finny store, The secret channel of its depths unfold: Monsters ten thousand fathoms sunk behold, Which eye hath never seen, that swim the flood; Such hidden wonders must remain untold. Nature, all wondrous, whom we scanned but rude, We fain must now break off, and quit its solitude.” XCV. “For know, Dan Fantasy, ye list’ning crowd, When in saloon of tap’stry late ye gazed, In audience seated, girt in tunic proud, Elf-like, that drew your wond’ring look amazed, Whose flowing robe of sapphire ye bepraised, Did strict enjoin, I nothing should withhold That can instruct the mind excursive raised, And by my art delight; while I unfold Knowledge, all hidden searched, more dear than precious gold.” CANTO III. ARGUMENT.