The pleasures of imagination. A poem / In three books.

  • Mark Akenside
Date:
1754
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The pleasures of imagination. A poem / In three books. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    24/144 (page 20)
    She led o’er vales and mountains, to explore What healing virtue fwells the tender veins Of herbs and flow’rs ; or what the beams of morn Draw forth, diftilling from the clifted rind 95 In balmy tears. But feme, to higher hopes Were deftin’d ; fome within a finer mould She wrought, and temper’d with a purer flame. To thefe the fire omnipotent unfolds The world’s harmonious volume, there to read 100* The tranfeript of himfelfi On every part They trace the bright impreffions of his hand i In earth or air, the meadow’s purple flores. The moon’s mild radiance, or the virgin’s form Blooming with rofy fmiles they fee portray’d 105 That uncreated beauty, which delights The mind fupreme. They alfo feel her charms. Enamour’d * they partake th’ eternal joy. For as old Memnon’s image, long renown9d By fabling Nilus, to the quiv’ring touch no Of Titan’s ray, with each repulfive firing Confenting, founded thro’ the warbling air Unbidden