Acalephæ.
(MEDUSÆ, OR JELLY-FISH.)
'And now your view upon the ocean turn,
And there the splendour of the waves discern;
Cast but a stone, or strike them with an oar,
And you shall flames within the deep explore;
Or scoop the stream phosphoric as you stand,
And the cold flames shall flash along your hand,
When lost in wonder, you shall walk and gaze
On weeds that sparkle, and on waves that blaze.'
XIII.
There are certain narrow-minded persons who raise objections to men of science prying into the secrets of nature, and profanely, as they think, attempting to explain the design and purpose of the great Creator.
But to the intelligent and right thinking man, no employment could be found more elevating or ennobling than this; and whether he be a fellow-worker himself, or merely an approving observer of the labours of others, still he feels, and conscientiously believes in the words of Milton, that—
"The desire which tends to know
The works of God, thereby to glorify
The great Workmaster, leads to no excess
That merits blame, but rather merits praise
The more it seems excess."