140 FLORA'S LEXICON. 



EADOW SWEET. Spirata Ulmaria. Class 

 12, Icosandria. Order: Pextauynia. Tliis 

 plant, called by the French " Rente des 

 pres" is deemed an useless herb, because 

 herbalists have not discovered any medical 

 properties in it ; and, also, because animals 

 reject it as food. It is, however, a highly 

 ornamental flower, and surely that ought to be accounted some- 

 thing. 



USELESSNESS. 



From worldly cares himself he did esloin, 

 And greatly shunned manly exercise ; 

 From every work he challenged essoin, 

 For contemplation sake: yet otherwise, 

 His life he led in lawless riotise 

 By which he grew to grievous malady ; 

 For in his lustless limbs through evil guise, 

 A shaking fever reign'd continually ; 

 Such one was Idleness. 



Spenser. 



Who doth to sloth his younger days engage, 

 For fond delight, he clips the wings of fame; 

 For sloth, the canker-worm of honour's badge, 

 Fame's fcather'd wings doth fret; burying the name 

 Of virtue's worth in dust of dunghill shame, 

 Whom action out of dust to light doth bring, 

 And makes her mount to heav'n with golden wing. 



Anon. 



What is a man, 

 If his chief good and market of his time 

 Be but to sleep and feed] a beast, no more. 

 Sure, he that made us with such large discourse, 

 Looking before and after, gave us not 

 That capability and god-like reason 

 To rust in us unused. 



SlIAKSPEARE. 



