Marshalling the way, by tract untrod before, Discoursing mainly on fair science theme, Geology, and geometric lore, Attraction’s laws, and rainbow optic’s beam, Prismatic hues that Newton learned to gleam, And gravity the fallen fruit made known To his great mind, on whom discovery’s stream Poured her clear light, and claimed him as her own; Galileo, Pascal, Boyle, renowned names, were shown. CLXXI. Beguiled with knowledge and instructive speech Until they gained the porch, fair science, hight, By that fair sylvan glade they joy’d to reach, That marv’lous led to pleasantries delight: The spot whereof their guide had charmed the sight With bright illusions, not less bright than true; Revealed again the past, tho’ hid in night, And what was old once more revived as new; Things ’neath, and on the earth, those ’bove, they now pursue. CLXXII. With awe akin to rev’rence they beheld What seem’d a porch or entrance bold display’d, Baseless as tho’ on floating clouds propell’d, Yet show’d fair columns thro’ the mist array’d, Like those of Pallas, half obscured in shade, With figures geometral carved in stone, That did adorn that portico’s façade; The zodiac signs and optic tube were shown, And here Urania crowned with stars emblazoned shone. CLXXIII. They entered straight up steps that rose in air, So buoyant seemed that lofty flight’s ascent, From whose high top it oped on vision fair, Not goodlier showed from mount or battlement, That much they wondered at its wide extent; All marv’lous fill’d with that enticing view, The ambient air they seemed to circumvent, As glanced their sight o’er dizzy mountains blue, And ever varied sky, o’ertinged with golden hue. CLXXIV. For now they took their stand on some huge height Apennine, or like to Caucasus upborne, From whence they could descry the golden light, When Phœbus first unbars the gates of morn, Dispread his amber golden locks unshorn, When as a god his forehead’s orient beam Doth usher in the ruddy streaked dawn, When Phæton-like he guides his fiery team, Whose axle’s glow doth fright dark Erebus’ foul dream. CLXXV. Far from the earth they tracked the eagle’s haunt, They saw the king of birds his eyry rear, Watching his clam’rous brood of eaglets gaunt, Or pounce for prey, then soaring upward bear, With cruel talons strong, the kid to tear; They saw him take his strong and awful flight, With dusky pinion cleaving wide the air, O’er turmoil wave beneath, or craggy height, There gazing on the sun his fixed undazzled sight. CLXXVI.