"Where flying Parthians pierce th' astonish'd foe With deathful shafts; from lofty Taurus' side, The rapid Tigris, and Euphrates flow, And o'er the desart pour one current wide.But soon the streams divided trace their way, And winding on, in separate channels glide, Thro' sandy wastes and peopled realms they stray, Till, join'd again, they pour a mighty tide.Whate'er th' impetuous rivers bore along, Boat, ships, and trees, now in their blended stream Are dash'd and huddl'd in tumultuous throng, And by blind Chance the currents guided seem.But Chance capricious holds no empire here; The rolling rivers Nature's laws obey;— Declining still, their downward tracks they steer, And lighter bodies in their streams convey.They mix, and separate, and unite again, By Sovereign Wisdom taught their beds to know:— Rest: then in this; Chance holds no ruling rein. But kind intention governs all below."