40
THE ELEPHANT
And that th' Assembly is uncertain, when
Such great Discoveries will occur agen,
'Tis reas'nable, we should, at least, contrive
240 To draw up as exact a Narrative
Of that which every Man of us can swear,
Our Eyes themselves have plainly seen appear;
That when 'tis fit to publish the Account,
We all may take our several Oaths upon't.
245 This said, the whole Assembly gave Consent
To drawing up th' authentick Instrument;
And, for the Nation's general Satisfaction,
To print, and own it in their next Transaction.
250 But while their ablest Men were drawing up
The wonderful Memoir o'th' Telescope,
A Member peeping in the Tube, by chance,
Beheld the Elephant begin t' advance,
That from the West-by-North Side of the Moon
255 To th'East-by-South was in a Moment gone.
This, being related, gave a sudden Stop
To all, their Grandees had been drawing up;
And every Person was amaz'd a-new,
How such a strange Surprizal should be true;
260 Or any Beast perform so great a Race,
So swift and rapid, in so short a Space,
Such great Discoveries will occur agen,
'Tis reas'nable, we should, at least, contrive
240 To draw up as exact a Narrative
Of that which every Man of us can swear,
Our Eyes themselves have plainly seen appear;
That when 'tis fit to publish the Account,
We all may take our several Oaths upon't.
245 This said, the whole Assembly gave Consent
To drawing up th' authentick Instrument;
And, for the Nation's general Satisfaction,
To print, and own it in their next Transaction.
250 But while their ablest Men were drawing up
The wonderful Memoir o'th' Telescope,
A Member peeping in the Tube, by chance,
Beheld the Elephant begin t' advance,
That from the West-by-North Side of the Moon
255 To th'East-by-South was in a Moment gone.
This, being related, gave a sudden Stop
To all, their Grandees had been drawing up;
And every Person was amaz'd a-new,
How such a strange Surprizal should be true;
260 Or any Beast perform so great a Race,
So swift and rapid, in so short a Space,
