From Heaven my strains begin: from Heaven descends The flame of genius to the chosen breast, And beauty with poetic wonder join'd, 100 And inspiration. Ere the rising sun Shone o'er the deep, or 'mid the vault of night The moon her silver lamp suspended; ere The vales with springs were water'd, or with groves Of oak or pine the ancient hills were crown'd; Then the Great Spirit, whom his works adore, Within his own deep essence view'd the forms, The forms eternal of created things: The radiant sun; the moon's nocturnal lamp; The mountains and the streams; the ample stores 110 Of earth, of heaven, of nature. From the first, On that full scene his love divine he fix'd, His admiration: till, in time complete, What he admired and loved his vital power Unfolded into being. Hence the breath Of life informing each organic frame: Hence the green earth, and wild-resounding waves: Hence light and shade, alternate; warmth and cold; And bright autumnal skies, and vernal showers, And all the fair variety of things. 120 But not alike to every mortal eye Is this great scene unveil'd. For while the claims Of social life to different labours urge The active powers of man, with wisest care Hath Nature on the multitude of minds Impress'd a various bias, and to each Decreed its province in the common toil. To some she taught the fabric of the sphere, The changeful moon, the circuit of the stars, The golden zones of heaven; to some she gave 130 To search the story of eternal thought; Of space, and time; of fate's unbroken chain, And will's quick movement; others by the hand She led o'er vales and mountains, to explore What healing virtue dwells in every vein Of herbs or trees. But some to nobler hopes Were destined; some within a finer mould She wrought, and temper'd with a purer flame. To these the Sire Omnipotent unfolds, In fuller aspects and with fairer lights, 140 This picture of the world. Through every part They trace the lofty sketches of his hand; In earth, or air, the meadow's flowery store, The moon's mild radiance, or the virgin's mien Dress'd in attractive smiles, they see portray'd (As far as mortal eyes the portrait scan) Those lineaments of beauty which delight The Mind Supreme. They also feel their force, Enamour'd; they partake the eternal joy.