A Remarkable Prophecy

“ Soon shall thy arm, unconquered steam,
afar,
Drag the slow barge or drive the rapid car,
Or on wide waving wings expanded, bear
The flying chariot through the fields of
air,
Fair crews triumphant, leaning from above.
Shall wave their fluttering kerchiefs as
they move,
Or warrior bands alarm the gaping crowd
And armies shrink beneath the shadowy
‘ cloud.”—Erasmus Darwin, 1791.