The Copernican System

 The Sun revolving on his axis turns, 
And with creative fire intensely burns; 
Impell'd by forcive air, our Earth supreme, 
Rolls with the planets round the solar gleam.
 
First Mercury completes his transient year, 
Glowing, refulgent, with reflected glare; 
Bright Venus occupies a wider way, 
The early harbinger of night and day; 
More distant still our globe terraqueous turns, 
Nor chills intense, nor fiercely heated burns; 
Around her rolls the lunar orb of light, 
Trailing her silver glories through the night: 
On the Earth's orbit see the various signs, 
Mark where the Sun our year completing shines; 
First the bright Ram his languid ray improves; 
Next glaring watry thro' the Bull he moves; 
The am'rous Twins admit his genial ray; 
Now burning thro' the Crab he takes his way; 
The Lion flaming bears the solar power; 
The Virgin faints beneath the sultry show'r, 
Now the just Balance weighs his equal force, 
The slimy Serpent swelters in his course; 
The sabled Archer clouds his languid face; 
The Goat, with tempests, urges on his race; 
Now in the Wat'rer his faint beams appear, 
And the cold Fishes end the circling year.
 
Beyond our globe the sanguine Mars displays 
A strong reflection of primoeval rays; 
Next belted Jupiter far distant gleams, 
Scarcely enlighten'd with the solar beams, 
With four unfix'd receptacles of light, 
He tours majestic thro' the spacious height: 
But farther yet the tardy Saturn lags, 
And five attendant Luminaries drags, 
Investing with a double ring his pace, 
He circles thro' immensity of space.
 
These are thy wondrous works, first source of Good! 
Now more admir'd in being understood.

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