These memorable investigations of Newton’s have been the admiration of succeeding philosophers, and even poets have caught inspiration from this theme:
“Nor could the darting beam of speed immense
Escape his swift pursuit and measuring eye.
E’en Light itself, which everything displays.
Shone undiscovered, till his brighter mind
Untwisted all the shining robe of day;
And, from the whitening undistinguished blaze,
Collecting every ray into his kind,
To the charmed eye educed the gorgeous train
Of parent colours. First the flaming red