FLORA'S LEXICON. 157 



of restoration. 



ERSICARIA. Polygonum Oriental. Class 

 8, Octandria. Order: Dioynia. The 



seeds of this Asiatic plant were procured 

 by M. Tournclbrt, from the garden of the 

 three Churches near Mount Ararat, the spot 

 on which the ark is supposed to have rested, 

 from whence it is selected for the emblem 



Behold the different climes agree, 

 Rejoicing in thy restoration. Dryden. 



RESTORATION. 



Yet it is not that age on my years has descended — 



'T is not that its snow-wreaths encircled my brow ; 

 But the newness and sweetness of Being are ended — 



I feel not their love-kindling witchery now : 

 The shadows of death o'er my path have been sweeping — 



There are those who have loved me, debarr'd from the day, 

 The green turf is bright where in peace they are sleeping, 



And on wings of remembrance my soul is away. 



It is shut to the glow of this present existence — 



It hears, from the Past, a funereal strain ; 

 And it eagerly turns to the high-seeming distance, 



Where the last blooms of earth will be garner'd again ; 

 Where no mildew the soft damask-rose cheek shall nourish, 



Where Grief bears no longer the poisonous sting ; 

 Where pitiless Death no dark sceptre can flourish, 



Or stain with his blight the luxuriant spring. 



It is thus, that the hopes, which to others are given, 



Fall cold on my heart in this rich month of May ; 

 I hear the clear anthems which ring through the heaven — 



I drink the bland airs that enliven the day; 

 And if gentle Nature, her festival keeping, 



Delights not my bosom, ah ! do not condemn ; 

 O'er the lost and the lovely my spirit is weeping, 



For the heart's fondest raptures are buried with them. 



Clark. 



14 === 



