“Suffice we must our higher flight suspend, Our wing restrain, conjecture infinite, ‘In wand’ring mazes lost,’ withouten end, Blinded our gaze with uncreated light, And only giv’n to immortal sight; Those shackles loosed that doth our spirit bound, Ere we can entertain such vision bright, That mortal man exclaims, with deep astound, How wonderful Thy works, how marvellous are found!’” CANTO VI. ARGUMENT. A Recapitulation of the Wonders Shown--The Proper Use of Knowledge enforced--The Infinite Value of Man’s Soul and Highest Destiny--An Inducement the Happiness of the Blest--The Scenes of Life chequered for a Wise Purpose--Man’s Redemption--The Summons--The Poet’s Departure--The Crowd, led by Sir Page, resume their Common Dress; after which they are brought by Sir Herald to the Postern Gate; who checks the Rabble Rout by a Blast of his Horn--The Crowd dismissed--Disperse their several Ways--Variety of their Pursuits--Dan Fantasy’s Palace is again illuminated--Other Folks invited--Sir Herald Prepares a Second Time to sound. CANTO VI. CCI. “Thus have I pictured what my art could show; Some fair illusions hidden brought to light: The depth of earth, the bowell’d earth below, Dark as the gloomy reign of Pluto’s night; And ocean’s secret wonders bared to sight, Its viewless monsters and its treasure’s heap; Gems costly hid in many a cluster bright, Embedded sunk as mine Golconda deep. These have we gazed, and shown where Neptune’s waters sleep. CCII. “And we have looked on Nature’s lovely face, The smiling landscape and the glorious sun, Gilding the morn to run his radiant race; Mountains and glaciers dread we’ve gazed upon; The mighty flowing river seen to run; Nature beheld in woody-wild and glen, ’Mid rites of blood by ancient Druid stone; Have tracked the savage beast in hidden den, And swelling torrent’s roar, far from the haunts of men. CCIII. “The wondrous works of Art we have display’d, Temple and column tow’ring to the sky; The chisel’s skill, in statuary array’d, And living canvass’ glowing imagery; And walls adorned with ancient tapestry. Some things of marvel looked with awe upon, That still exist to all posterity; Smile o’er the desert reared its ancient stone, And have the pyramids and hoary Stonehenge shown. CCIV. “And some illustrious darling sons of fame Have in review pass’d glorious in our sight, And left behind them an enduring name, Whose works refresh our spirits, and invite, Fadeless as flowers that drink ambrosial light, A flame that sheds a never quenchless ray; So shines Hespèrus, sparkling through the night; Or Lucifer that ushers in the day: Such in their hemisphere ‘Learning’ and ‘Mind’ display.