Philosophy, a Poem, addressed to the Ladies who attended Mr. Booth's Lectures in Dublin

To Science sacred, Muse, exalt thy Lays;
Science of Nature, and to Nature's Praise:
Attend, ye Virtuous, and rejoice, to know
Her mystick Labours, and her Laws below;
Her Ways above with curious Eyes explore,
Admire her Treasures, and her God adore.

Behold, ye Fair! how radiant Colours glow,
What dyes the Rose; what paints the heav'nly Bow;
The purpling Shade, the rich refracted Ray,
And all th' unblended Beams of various Day.
Lo! here, the Magnet's Magick charms the Sight,
And fills the Soul with Wonder and Delight:
In her coy Nature turns her Face aside,
And mocks th' enquiring Sage's learned Pride.
Here, less reserv'd, she shows her plainer Course
In mutual Contest of elastick Force,
Which holds reciprocal in ballanc'd Strife,
The Shield of Nature, and the Fence of Life:
The ambient Atmosphere, embracing all,
The wide Circumf'rence of this circling Ball,
Saving each vital Frame from crushing Fate;
For inward Act sustains external Weight:
The Vehicle of Life, to those that breathe
On solid Land, or liquid Waves beneath,
The Universe pervading, filling Space,
And, like its Maker, unconfin'd to Place.

What pleasing Fervours in each Bosom rise!
What deep Attention, and what fix'd Surprize!
When, quick as Thought, th' Electric Vigour springs
Swifter than Lightning on its rapid Wings;
A Flight so instant, to no Space confin'd,
Eludes Ideas, and outstrips the Mind.
Lo! to the Brain the bright Effluvium flies;
Glows in the Heart, and flashes from the Eyes.
Here, with new Raptures, the fond Youth shall gaze,
With Joy transmitting the ecstatick Blaze.
See! the coy Nymph partake his Flame by Turns,
See, like a Seraph, how she smiles and burns!

Contracted here, by wond'rous Art, is seen
A boundless System in a small Machine.
Here, human Skill, to proud Perfection brought,
The mortal Mimick of Omnifick Thought;
Th' Almighty's Model, to the Mind conveys
The Universe, and all its Pow'rs displays;
How wander Planets, how revolves the Year,
The Moon how changes, and how Comets glare:
The Sun's bright Globe illumes th' unmeasur'd Space,
Whilst waiting Worlds enjoy, by Turns, his Face;
From his rich Presence drink th' All-quick'ning Soul,
from him their Days ascend, their Seasons roll.
See! Wisdom, here, her brightest Beams display,
To fill the Mind with Philosophick Day:
The Springs unfolding of Mechanick Laws,
Tracing, through known Effects, th' Eternal Cause,
Whose pow'rful Fiat, whose creative Will
First founded Nature, and supports her still.

Here, God-like Newton's all-capacious Mind,
The Glory, and the Guide of Humankind,
Shows wedded Worlds far distant Worlds embrace
With mutual Bands, yet keep their destin'd Space;
Roll endless Measures through th' etherial Plain,
Link'd by the social, strong, attractive Chain,
Whose latent Springs exert all Nature's Force,
Enwrap the Poles, and point the Stars their Course.
Mysterious Energy! stupendous Theme!
Immediate Mover of this boundless Frame!
Who can thy Essence, or thy Pow'r explain?
The Sons of Wisdom seek thy Source in vain:
Thy Self invisible, yet seen thy Laws,
This glorious Fabrick thy Effect, and God the Cause.

Thrice happy few! that wisely here attend
The Voice of Science, and her Cause befriend;
Let others, heedless of their youthful Prime,
Squander on empty Joys their fleeting Time;
'Tis your's, with Reason's searching Eye to view
Great Nature's Laws, and trace her winding Clue.
Behold her Book, th' instructive Page expand,
Fill'd with the Wonders of her Maker's Hand,
In awful Characters, which clearly shine
Worthy of Wisdom, and of Pow'r Divine.
Peruse God's Ways, his perfect Workings trace;
In Nature's Mirror shines his heav'nly Face.

To you, bright Nymphs, where Wisdom charms us most,
The Pride of Nature, and Creation's boast;
To you, Philosophy enamour'd flies,
And triumphs in the Plaudit of your Eyes.
When Worth, like yours, her shining Throne sustains,
The Queen of Science with true Splendor reigns;
By Beauty aided, she extends her Sway,
And won, by you, Mankind glad Homage pay.