He traces their progress from the birth of the universe to
the present state of the earth and its inhabitants; asserts the future
advancement of society, till perpetual peace shall be established.
Columbus proposes his doubts; alleges in support of them the successive
rise and downfal of ancient nations; and infers future and periodical
convulsions. Hesper, in answer, exhibits the great distinction between
the ancient and modern state of the arts and of society. Crusades.
Commerce. Hanseatic League. Copernicus. Kepler. Newton, Galileo.
Herschel. Descartes. Bacon. Printing Press. Magnetic Needle.
Geographical discoveries. Federal system in America. A similar system
to be extended over the whole earth. Columbus desires a view of this.
But now had Hesper from the Hero's sight
Veil'd the vast world with sudden shades of night.
Earth, sea and heaven, where'er he turns his eye,
Arch out immense, like one surrounding sky
Lamp'd with reverberant fires. The starry train
Paint their fresh forms beneath the placid main;
Fair Cynthia here her face reflected laves,
Bright Venus gilds again her natal waves,
The Bear redoubling foams with fiery joles,
And two dire dragons twine two arctic poles.
Lights o'er the land, from cities lost in shade,
New constellations, new galaxies spread,
And each high pharos double flames provides,
One from its fires, one fainter from the tides.
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