Led by that hope sublime, whose cloudless eye Through the fair toils and ornaments of earth 490 Discerns the nobler life reserved for heaven, Favour'd alike they worship round the shrine Where Truth conspicuous with her sister-twins, The undivided partners of her sway, With Good and Beauty reigns. Oh! let not us By Pleasure's lying blandishments detain'd, Or crouching to the frowns of bigot rage, Oh! let not us one moment pause to join That chosen band. And if the gracious Power, Who first awaken'd my untutor'd song, 500 Will to my invocation grant anew The tuneful spirit, then through all our paths Ne'er shall the sound of this devoted lyre Be wanting; whether on the rosy mead When Summer smiles, to warn the melting heart Of Luxury's allurement; whether firm Against the torrent and the stubborn hill To urge free Virtue's steps, and to her side Summon that strong divinity of soul Which conquers Chance and Fate: or on the height, 510 The goal assign'd her, haply to proclaim Her triumph; on her brow to place the crown Of uncorrupted praise; through future worlds To follow her interminated way, And bless Heaven's image in the heart of man. Such is the worth of Beauty; such her power, So blameless, so revered. It now remains, In just gradation through the various ranks Of being, to contemplate how her gifts Rise in due measure, watchful to attend 520 The steps of rising Nature. Last and least, In colours mingling with a random blaze, Doth Beauty dwell. Then higher in the forms Of simplest, easiest measure; in the bounds Of circle, cube, or sphere. The third ascent To symmetry adds colour: thus the pearl Shines in the concave of its purple bed, And painted shells along some winding shore Catch with indented folds the glancing sun. Next, as we rise, appear the blooming tribes 530 Which clothe the fragrant earth; which draw from her Their own nutrition; which are born and die, Yet, in their seed, immortal; such the flowers With which young Maia pays the village maids That hail her natal morn; and such the groves Which blithe Pomona rears on Vaga's bank, To feed the bowl of Ariconian swains Who quaff beneath her branches. Nobler still Is Beauty's name where, to the full consent Of members and of features, to the pride 540 Of colour, and the vital change of growth, Life's holy flame with piercing sense is given, While active motion speaks the temper'd soul: So moves the bird of Juno: so the steed With rival swiftness beats the dusty plain, And faithful dogs with eager airs of joy Salute their fellows. What sublimer pomp Adorns the seat where Virtue dwells on earth, And Truth's eternal day-light shines around, What palm belongs to man's imperial front, 550 And woman powerful with becoming smiles,