Opening the text

The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical NotesDarwin, Erasmus

Philosophy

The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes

Name: The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes
Author: Darwin, Erasmus

Darwin, Erasmus

Cosmology -- Poetry; Life -- Origin -- Poetry

By hands unseen are struck aerial wires,
  And Angel-tongues are heard amid the quires;                     510
  From aile to aile the trembling concord floats,
  And the wide roof returns the mingled notes,
  Through each fine nerve the keen vibrations dart,
  Pierce the charm'd ear, and thrill the echoing heart.--

    MUTE the sweet voice, and still the quivering strings,
  Now Silence hovers on unmoving wings.--
  --Slow to the altar fair URANIA bends
  Her graceful march, the sacred steps ascends,
  High in the midst with blazing censer stands,
  And scatters incense with illumined hands:                       520
  Thrice to the GODDESS bows with solemn pause,
  With trembling awe the mystic veil withdraws,
  And, meekly kneeling on the gorgeous shrine,
  Lifts her ecstatic eyes to TRUTH DIVINE!                         524


END OF CANTO IV.




CONTENTS OF THE NOTES.


CANTO I.

  Line.

   36 Origin of European Nations.
   76 Early use of Painting and Hieroglyphics.
   83 Proteus represents Time.
  126 Cave of Trophonius.
  137 Eleusinian Mysteries.
  176 Antiquity of Statuary, casting Figures, and Carving.
  224 Infancy of the present World.
  235 Of Heat.
  239 Of Attraction.
  245 Of Contraction.
  259 Arteries not conical.
  262 Venous Absorption.
  268 Decrease of the Ocean.
  270 Sensation and Volition.
  283 Mucor, Vibrio.
  295 Animals are first aquatic.
  315 Sea, originally was not Salt.
  327 Animals from the Sea.
  335 Aquatic Plants.
  343 Frogs.
  363 Rainbow in Northern Latitudes.
  372 Venus rising from the Sea.
  392 The Fetus in the Womb.
  417 Animals from the Mud of the Nile.


CANTO II.

    1 Shortness of Life.
    3 Old Age surprising.
   39 Organic and chemical Properties.
   43 Immortality of Matter.
   47 Adonis emblem of Life.
   71 The Truffle, Lycoperdon.
   83 Volvox.
   85 Polypus.
   87 Taenia.
   89 Oysters.
   90 Coral-Insect.
  114 Female Sex produced.
  118 Power of Imagination.
  122 Mankind were formerly Hermaphrodites and Quadrupeds.
  167 Hereditary Diseases of Vegetables.
  223 Psyche and Cupid.
  268 Some Honey poisonous.
  271 Appetency and Propensity.
  280 Vallisneria.
  288 Lampyris.
  302 Insects from Anthers and Stigmas.
  321 Horns of Stags, and Tusks of Boars, Spurs of Cocks.
  351 Chick in the Egg.
  356 Songs of Birds.
  373 How Fish swim.
  375 How Birds fly.
  434 Of Smiles, and of Laughter.


CANTO III.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical NotesDarwin, Erasmus

Philosophy

The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes

Darwin, Erasmus

Cosmology -- Poetry; Life -- Origin -- Poetry

By hands unseen are struck aerial wires,
  And Angel-tongues are heard amid the quires;                     510
  From aile to aile the trembling concord floats,
  And the wide roof returns the mingled notes,
  Through each fine nerve the keen vibrations dart,
  Pierce the charm'd ear, and thrill the echoing heart.--

    MUTE the sweet voice, and still the quivering strings,
  Now Silence hovers on unmoving wings.--
  --Slow to the altar fair URANIA bends
  Her graceful march, the sacred steps ascends,
  High in the midst with blazing censer stands,
  And scatters incense with illumined hands:                       520
  Thrice to the GODDESS bows with solemn pause,
  With trembling awe the mystic veil withdraws,
  And, meekly kneeling on the gorgeous shrine,
  Lifts her ecstatic eyes to TRUTH DIVINE!                         524


END OF CANTO IV.




CONTENTS OF THE NOTES.


CANTO I.

  Line.

   36 Origin of European Nations.
   76 Early use of Painting and Hieroglyphics.
   83 Proteus represents Time.
  126 Cave of Trophonius.
  137 Eleusinian Mysteries.
  176 Antiquity of Statuary, casting Figures, and Carving.
  224 Infancy of the present World.
  235 Of Heat.
  239 Of Attraction.
  245 Of Contraction.
  259 Arteries not conical.
  262 Venous Absorption.
  268 Decrease of the Ocean.
  270 Sensation and Volition.
  283 Mucor, Vibrio.
  295 Animals are first aquatic.
  315 Sea, originally was not Salt.
  327 Animals from the Sea.
  335 Aquatic Plants.
  343 Frogs.
  363 Rainbow in Northern Latitudes.
  372 Venus rising from the Sea.
  392 The Fetus in the Womb.
  417 Animals from the Mud of the Nile.


CANTO II.

    1 Shortness of Life.
    3 Old Age surprising.
   39 Organic and chemical Properties.
   43 Immortality of Matter.
   47 Adonis emblem of Life.
   71 The Truffle, Lycoperdon.
   83 Volvox.
   85 Polypus.
   87 Taenia.
   89 Oysters.
   90 Coral-Insect.
  114 Female Sex produced.
  118 Power of Imagination.
  122 Mankind were formerly Hermaphrodites and Quadrupeds.
  167 Hereditary Diseases of Vegetables.
  223 Psyche and Cupid.
  268 Some Honey poisonous.
  271 Appetency and Propensity.
  280 Vallisneria.
  288 Lampyris.
  302 Insects from Anthers and Stigmas.
  321 Horns of Stags, and Tusks of Boars, Spurs of Cocks.
  351 Chick in the Egg.
  356 Songs of Birds.
  373 How Fish swim.
  375 How Birds fly.
  434 Of Smiles, and of Laughter.


CANTO III.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes

The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes

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