| A little learning is a dangerous thing ; |
| Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring : |
| There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, |
| And drinking largely sobers us again. |
| Fired at first sight with what the Muse imparts, |
| In fearless youth we tempt the heights of Arts ; |
| While from the bounded level of our mind |
| Short views we take, nor see the lengths behind, |
| But, more advanced, behold with strange surprise |
| New distant scenes of endless science rise ! |
| So pleased at first the towering Alps we try, |
| Mount o’er the vales, and seem to tread the sky ; |
| The eternal snows appear already past, |
| And the first clouds and mountains seem the last ; |
| But those attained, we tremble to survey |
| The growing labours of the lengthened way ; |
| The increasing prospect tires our wandering eyes, |
| Hills peep o’er hills, and Alps on Alps arise ! |
