BOOK XV.
THE ANALYTICO-CLASSIFICATORY SCIENCE.
HISTORY OF MINERALOGY.
Κρύσταλλον φαέθοντα διαυγέα λάζεο χερσὶ,
Λᾶαν ἀπόῤῥοιαν περιφεγγέος ἀμβρότου αἴγλης,
Αἰθέρι δ’ ἀθανάτων μέγα τέρπεται ἄφθιτον ἦτορ.
Τόν κ’ εἴπερ μετὰ χειρὰς ἔχων, περὶ νηὸν ἵκηαι,
Οὔτις τοι μακάρων ἀρνήσεται εὐχωλῆσι.
Orpheus. Lithica.
Now, if the bold but pious thought be thine,
To reach our spacious temple’s inner shrine,
Take in thy reverent hands the crystal stone,
Where heavenly light in earthy shroud is shown:—
Where, moulded into measured form, with rays
Complex yet clear, the eternal Ether plays;
This if thou firmly hold and rightly use,
Not long the gods thy ardent wish refuse.