Round he surveys, and well might, where he stood [ 555 ]

So high above the circling Canopie

Of Nights extended shade; from Eastern Point

Of Libra to the fleecie Starr that bears

Andromeda farr off Atlantic Seas

Beyond th Horizon; then from Pole to Pole [ 560 ]

He views in bredth, and without longer pause

Down right into the Worlds first Region throws

His flight precipitant, and windes with ease

Through the pure marble Air his oblique way

Amongst innumerable Starrs, that shon [ 565 ]

Stars distant, but nigh hand seemd other Worlds,

Or other Worlds they seemd, or happy Iles,

Like those Hesperian Gardens famd of old,

Fortunate Fields, and Groves and flourie Vales,

Thrice happy Iles, but who dwelt happy there [ 570 ]

He stayd not to enquire: above them all

The golden Sun in splendor likest Heaven

Allurd his eye: Thither his course he bends

Through the calm Firmament; but up or downe

By center, or eccentric, hard to tell, [ 575 ]

Or Longitude, where the great Luminarie

Alooff the vulgar Constellations thick,

That from his Lordly eye keep distance due,

Dispenses Light from farr; they as they move

Thir Starry dance in numbers that compute [ 580 ]

Days, months, & years, towards his all-chearing Lamp

Turn swift thir various motions, or are turnd

By his Magnetic beam, that gently warms

The Univers, and to each inward part

With gentle penetration, though unseen, [ 585 ]

Shoots invisible vertue even to the deep:

So wondrously was set his Station bright.

There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps

Astronomer in the Suns lucent Orbe

Through his glazd Optic Tube yet never saw. [ 590 ]

The place he found beyond expression bright,

Compard with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone;

Not all parts like, but all alike informd

With radiant light, as glowing Iron with fire;

If mettal, part seemd Gold, part Silver cleer; [ 595 ]

If stone, Carbuncle most or Chrysolite,

Rubie or Topaz, to the Twelve that shon

In Aarons Brest-plate, and a stone besides

Imagind rather oft then elsewhere seen,

That stone, or like to that which here below [ 600 ]

Philosophers in vain so long have sought,

In vain, though by thir powerful Art they binde

Volatil Hermes, and call up unbound

In various shapes old Proteus from the Sea,

Draind through a Limbec to his Native forme. [ 605 ]