IN THE MOON.
17
Applauded the profound Dispute;
And grew more gay and resolute
By having overcome all doubt,
320 Than if it never had fall'n out;
And, to compleat their Narrative,
Agreed t' insert this strange Retrieve.
But, while they were diverted all
With wording the Memorial,
325 The Footboys, for Diversion too,
As having nothing else to do,
Seeing the Telescope at leisure,
Turn'd Virtuosos for their Pleasure;
Began to gaze upon the Moon,
330 As those they waited on, had done,
With Monkeys Ingenuity,
That love to practise, what they see
When one, whose Turn it was to peep,
Saw something in the Engine creep;
335 And, viewing well, discover'd more,
Than all the Learn'd had done before.
Quoth he, a little Thing is slunk
Into the long star-gazing Trunk;
And now is gotten down so nigh,
340 I have him just against mine Eye.
And grew more gay and resolute
By having overcome all doubt,
320 Than if it never had fall'n out;
And, to compleat their Narrative,
Agreed t' insert this strange Retrieve.
But, while they were diverted all
With wording the Memorial,
325 The Footboys, for Diversion too,
As having nothing else to do,
Seeing the Telescope at leisure,
Turn'd Virtuosos for their Pleasure;
Began to gaze upon the Moon,
330 As those they waited on, had done,
With Monkeys Ingenuity,
That love to practise, what they see
When one, whose Turn it was to peep,
Saw something in the Engine creep;
335 And, viewing well, discover'd more,
Than all the Learn'd had done before.
Quoth he, a little Thing is slunk
Into the long star-gazing Trunk;
And now is gotten down so nigh,
340 I have him just against mine Eye.
Whim. Wilkins, who was pretty sanguine in his Opinions, writ a Book upon this Subject, and yet modestly entitles it—"A Discourse, concerning a new Planet tending to prove, that ('tis probable) our Earth is one of the Planets." See Wilkins's Philosophical Works.
384.
