The natural history of Stafford-shire by Robert Plot ...

To Dr. PLOT on his Natural History of Staffordshire.

1

WHAT strange Perversity is this of Man! When twas a Crime to tast th' inlightning Tree He could not then his hand refrain, None then so inquisitive, so curious as He: But now he'has liberty to try and know God's whole Plantation below, Now the Angelic fruit may be Tasted by all whose arms can reach the Tree, H'is now by Licence careles made, The Tree Neglects to Climb, and Sleeps beneath the Shade.

2.

Such restive Sedentary Soules have they Who could to Patriarchal years live on Fix'd to Hereditary Clay, And know no Climate but their own. Contracted to their narrow Sphere Rest before Knowledge they prefer, And of this Globe wherein they dwell No more than of the Heavenly Orbs can tell, As if by nature placed below Not on this Earth to dwell, but to take Root and grow.

3

Dull Souls, why did great Nature take such care To write in such a Splendid Character If man the only thing below That can pretend her hand to know, Her fair-writ Volum does despise, And tho' design'd for Wisdom won't be Wise? Th' Allmighty getts no Praise from this dull kind, The Sun was never Worship'd by the Blind. Such Ignorance can ne'r Devotion raise, They will want Wisdom, and their Maker Praise.

4

They only can this Tribute duely yeild Whose active spirits range abroad And traverse ore all Natures field And view the great Magnificence of God. They see the hidden wealth of Natures store, Fall down, and Learnedly adore.

But they most justly yet this tribute pay Who dont Contemplate only, but display, Comment on Natures text, and to the sense Expose her latent excellence. Who like the Sun not only travel ore The world, but give it light, that others may adore.

5

In th' head of these Heroic Few Our Learned Author first appears in view, Whose searching Genius like the Lamp of day Does the Earth's furniture display, Nor suffer's to ly buri'd and unknown Natures rich Talent, or his own. Drake and Columbus do in thee revive, And we from thy Research as much receive. Thou art as great as they, for tis all one New Worlds to find, or nicely to describe the known.

6

On mighty Hero, our whole Isle survey, Advance thy Standard, Conquer all the way. Let nothing but the Sea controul The progres of thy active Soul. Act like a pious Courteous Ghost And to mankind retrieve what's lost. With thy Victorious Charitable hand Point out the hidden Treasures of our Land. Envy or Ignorance do what they will Thou hast a blessing from the Muses Hill. Great be thy spirit as thy Work's divine, Shew thou thy Maker's Praise, We Poets will sing thine.

J. NORRIS M. A. and Fellow of All-Souls Coll.