FLORA'S LEXICON. 145 



OUNTAIN ASH, or ROWAN TREE. Py 

 rus Aucuparia. Class 12, Icosandria. Or- 

 der: Pentagynia. The common appella 

 tion of this beautiful tree, the character of 

 its foliage, and its choice of situation, have 

 led to some confusion respecting its classi- 

 fication. Gerarde and Gilpin, for instance, 

 have considered it a variety of the true ash (Fraxinus) ; an error 

 which has not escaped the animadversions of later botanists, 

 who all now concur in comprehending it in the genus Pyrus. 



TALISMAN. 



One effort more, and now I seem to stand 



On proud Helvellyn, — feel around me blow 

 The keen, fresh breeze ; or tread " the silver strand" 



Of the blue lake, and watch its gentle flow : 

 Now pierce the glen where Ayrey's torrent boils, 



And mark the sunbeams dally with the spray, 

 Till o'er the troubled flood an Iris smiles, 



As if to charm its wrathful mood away ; 

 Or pitying view each little flower, bright-hued, 

 Weeping its life away in sunless solitude. 



Now glancing upward to a dizzy height, 



I see the rowan fling its feathery sprays 

 O'er the cleft rocks, with scarlet fruit so bright, 



It seems a sylvan Iris to my gaze. 

 Fairest of trees that love the rushing stream, 



The rocky glen, or mountain's shaggy side! 

 Ah ! well, methinks, of yore might Fancy deem 



No evil thing could in thy presence bide; 

 So pure thou look'st, so fearless, and so free, 

 Owning no spells thyself save beauty's witchery. 



Anon. 



13 



