Then passing thro’ a lofty corridor, By which their charmed conductor onward led, That brought them to an old oak carved door, Half ope’d, thro’ which a sombre light was shed, That show’d the outline of a reverend head, With flowing locks that graced his shoulders fell, Absorbed as tho’ on dainty thought he fed; Like old inspired man in hermit cell, Or like to prophet seer, yon blind bard lone did dwell. CXIX. The hour it was of inspiration’s flow, When the soul’s thoughts essay’d for utterance find, In strains Æolian bade the blind bard glow, As flow’d the argument to his great mind, Sublimely sung the fate of lost mankind; Words from his lips with glowing fervour fell, As moved the burning seraph, bliss enshrined, To touch his harp, to charm the heav’nly dell With airs symphonious, such as choir of angels swell. CXX. And one they sought in other chamber found, On telescope’s discoveries thoughtful bent, That his hand wrought to gaze the stars around, By science taught to read the firmament; Careless were strew’d dials and prisms blent, Tangents and globes, mechanic art’s design, The youthful artist plann’d with mind intent; Prismatic colours, with the zodiac shine, And planetary orbs, their motions traced divine. CXXI. He, sage philosopher, absorbed in thought, On geometric figures conning deep, With algebraic skill each distance sought, And ranged the field of stars with optic sweep; Saw from his vantage ground discovery’s steep, The balanced harmony of the nightly spheres By gravitation’s laws their orbits keep: Grand science, that repaid the toil of years! ’Twas so to Newton’s mind, great without boast appears. CXXII. Descending now what seem’d a marble flight, That from a noble terrace winding led, And brought them to a garden of delight: Delicious groves, a blue sky over head, Green alleys, whose unsullied verdure shed Inviting softness, sunk in eve’s repose; Such as Adonis found and made his bed, Weary with hunting, sought his eyelids close, And threw his dainty limbs--just such a spot he chose. CXXIII. The shadowy trees, thro’ which the flaming sun With slanting ray fell on the velvet green, Made graceful avenue to look upon; Soft verdant slopes in distance lovely sheen, Clear flow’d the rivulet far winding seen; The plumaged bird, with golden glossy wing, Was spied to dart thro’ foliag’d boughs between; And minstrels heard thro’ thicket loud to sing, Their sweet delicious notes caused wood and valley ring. CXXIV.