This section is from the book "A Library Of Wonders And Curiosities Found In Nature And Art, Science And Literature", by I. Platt. Also available from Amazon: A library of wonders and curiosities.
Early Invention of several useful Arts - Automaton - Androides - Extraordinay Pieces of Clockwork - Heidelberg Clock - Strasburg Clock - Clepsydra - invention of Watches.
What cannot art and industry perform,
When science plans the progress of their toil!
They smile at penury, disease, and storm;
And oceans from their mighty mounds recoil.
When tyrants scourge, or demagogues embroil
A land, or when the rabble's headlong rage
Order transforms to anarchy and spoil;
Deep vers'd in man, the philosophic sage
Prepares with lenient hand their frenzy t' assuage;
Tis he alone, whose comprehensive mind,
From situation, temper, soil, and clime
Explor'd, a nation's various pow'rs can bind,
And various orders, in one form sublime
Of polity, that 'midst the wrecks of time,
Secure shall lift its head on ligh, nor fear
Th' assault of foreign or domestic crime,
While public faith, and public love sincere,
And industry and law maintain their sway severe. Beattle.
 
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