His brother Niger too, and all the floods In which the full-form'd maids of Afric lave Their jetty limbs; and all that from the tract Of woody mountains stretch'd through gorgeous Ind From Menam's orient stream, that nightly shines With insect-lamps, to where aurora sheds On Indus' smiling banks the rosy shower; All, at this bounteous season, ope their urns, And pour untoiling harvest o'er the land. Nor less thy world, Columbus, drinks, refresh'd, Rolls a brown deluge; and the native drives At once his dome, his robe, his food, and arms. 830 840 Continuous depth, and wondrous length of course, In silent dignity they sweep along; And traverse realms unknown, and blooming wilds, O'er peopled plains they fair-diffusive flow, 850 860 But what avails this wondrous waste of wealth, This gay profusion of luxurious bliss, This pomp of Nature? what their balmy meads, Their powerful herbs, and Ceres void of pain? By vagrant birds dispers'd, and wafting winds, What their unplanted fruits? what the cool draughts, The ambrosial food, rich gums, and spicy health, Deep in the bowels of the pitying earth, Her odorous woods, and shining ivory stores? The godlike wisdom of the temper'd breast; Investigation calm, whose silent powers 870 Command the world; the light that leads to Heaven; Kind equal rule, the government of laws, And all-protecting freedom, which alone 881 Sustains the name and dignity of man: These are not theirs. The parent sun himself And, with oppressive ray, the roseate bloom And feature gross; or worse, to ruthless deeds, At noon forth-issuing, gathers up his train In orbs immense, then, darting out anew, Seeks the refreshing fount, by which diffus'd 890 900 He throws his folds; and while, with threatening tongue And deathful jaws erect, the monster curls His flaming crest, all other thirst appall'd, Or shivering flies, or check'd at distance stands, Whose high-concocted venom through the veins |