Classic Poem

The poor design above to this below.
Two Tuscan columns jutting from the wall,
With each his proper Base , and Capital ,
Support a well-turn'd Arch , and of one piece,
With all its Mouldings , Frize , and Coronice .
Oh, who that sees these things, but must reflect
With wonder on th'Almighty Architect ,
Whose works all humane Art so far excell?
For doubtless he that Heaven made, made Hell .
This leads into a handsom Room, wherein
A Bason stands with waters Crystalline,
To welcome such, as, once at least, shall grace
With unknown light this solitary place.
On this side many more small Grotto's are,
Which, were the first away, would all seem rare:
But, that once seen, we may the rest pass by,
As hardly worth our curiosity.
But we must back, ere we can forward go,
Into the Channel we forsook below;
Through which the rugged pass does only lye
T'a further, and compleat discovery.
Being return'd, we now again proceed
Thorough a Vale that's salebrous indeed,
Squeezing our guts, bruising our flesh and bones,
To thrust betwixt massy, and pointed stones,
Some three, some four, and others five foot high,
Puffing, and sweating in our industry;
Till after three, or fourscore paces more,
We reach the second Rivers marble shoar,
Four times as broad, as that we past before.
The waters margent here goes down so steep,
That at first step you chop in middle deep;
But, though the way be cumbersom, and rough,
'Tis no where more, and foardable enough.
This, as the other clear, differs in this,
That bottom is of Sand, this stony is,
And here withal the water is so strong,
That as you raise one foot to move along,
Without good heed, you will have much ado
To fix the other foot from rising too,
And yet there is no current here, nor spring
T'occasion such an unexpected thing;
For, though the Country People are so wise
To call these Rivers , they'r but Stagnancies ,
Left by the flood; which, when retir'd again,
The Cave does in her hollow lap retain.
As here through cobling stones we stumbling wade,
The narrowing Cave cast such a dreadful shade,
That being thence unable to discover,
With all our lights how far the Lake was over,
We made a halt and, as the rest desir'd,
I now half willing was to have retir'd,
And had not Resolution then stept in,
The great Adventure had not finisht bin.
But ore we got, and from our cloaths there rain'd
A welcome showr upon the thirsty Sand,
Of which we here vast Mountains saw by Seas
Of Torrents washt from distant Provinces ;
For the hard ribs of the Caves native stone
So solid is, that that I'me sure yields none.
Over these Hills we forward still contend,
Wishing, and longing for our Journeys end,
Till now again we saw the Rock descend
Forming a Roof so even, smooth, and sleek,
Without, or crack, or seam, or chink, or nick,
Some twenty paces long, and ten foot high,
As the Mechanick Trowel may defy.
I'th midst of which a Cupolo does rise,
(As if to crown the other rarities)
In th'exact hollow of a weighty Bell ,
Which does in beauty very much excell
All I ere saw before, excepting none,
Though I have been at Lincoln , and at Roane .
Just beyond this a purling Rill we meet,
Which, though scarce deep enough to wet our feet,
Had they been dry, must be a River too,
And has more title than the other two;
Because this runs, which neither of them do.
Though ev'ry Kennel that we see does pour
More liberal streams in ev'ry Thunder-showr .
Just where 'tis met, as if to shun the light,
It under ground vanishes out of sight;
We take the obvious stream to be our guide ,
Sand-hills , and Rocks by turns on either side,
Plashing through water, and through slabby Sand,
Till a vast Sand-hill once more bids us stand;
For here again, who ere shall try will know,
The humorous Rock descends so very low,
That the swoln floods when they in fury rave
Throw up this Mount , that almost choaks the Cave .
Where, though the Brook offer'd to guide us still,
Through a blind Creek o'th right hand of this Hill ;
We thought it not prudence to follow it,
Unlikely we conceiv'd our bulks t'admit:
But storm'd the Hill , which rising fast and steep
So near the Rock we on all four must creep,
It on the other side as fast does dip;
And to reward us for the mighty pain,
Brought us unto our little Nymph again.
Which we some paces follow'd still, when there