The History of the Royal Society of London

In deserts but of small extent,
Bacon, like Moses, led us forth at last,
The barren wilderness he past,
Did on the very border stand
Of the blest promised land,
And from the mountain's top of his exalted wit,
Saw it himself, and showed us it.
But life did never to one man allow
Time to discover worlds, and conquer too;
Nor can so short a line sufficient be
To fathom the vast depths of nature's sea:
The work he did we ought to admire,
And were unjust if we should more require
From his few years, divided 'twixt the excess
Of low affliction, and high happiness:
For who on things remote can fix his sight,
That is always in a triumph, or a fight?

VI.

From you, great champions, we expect to get
These spacious countries but discovered yet;
Countries where yet instead of nature, we
Her images and idols worshiped see:
These large and wealthy regions to subdue,
Though learning has whole armies at command,
Quartered about in every land,
A better troop she never together drew.
Methinks, like Gideon's little band,
God with design has picked out you,
To do these noble wonders by a few:
When the whole host he saw, "They are," said he,
"Too many to overcome for me";
And now he chooses out his men,
Much in the way that he did then:
Not those many whom he found