FLORA'S LEXICON. 171 



ANUNCULUS, ASIATIC. Ranunculus 

 Asiaticus. Class 13, Polyandria. Or- 

 der: Polyoynia. The Asiatic ranunculus 

 blooms amid our parterres in the earliest 

 days of spring, spreading forth its varied 

 lustrous flowers, which, shining with innu- 

 merable hues, are radiant with attractions. 

 No other plant offers so rich a variety of colour to amateurs, 

 11 from a black down to white, through all the shades of reds, yel- 

 lows, browns, and, indeed, excepting blue, every colour may be 

 found in these gaily-painted flowers." 



YOU ARE RADIANT WITH CHARMS. 



Light as the angel-shapes that bless 

 An infant's dream, yet not the less 

 Rich in all woman's loveliness; — 

 With eyes so pure, that from their ray 

 Dark Vice would turn abash'd away, 

 Blinded, like serpents when they gaze 

 Upon the emerald's virgin blaze ! — 

 Yet fill'd with all youth's sweet desires, 

 Mingling the meek and vestal fires 

 Of other worlds with all the bliss, 

 The fond, weak tenderness of this ! 

 A soul, too, more than half divine, 



Where, through some shades of earthly feeling, 

 Religion's soften'd glories shine, 



Like light through summer foliage stealing, 

 Shedding a glow of such mild hue, 

 So warm, and yet so shadowy too, 

 As makes the very darkness there 

 More beautiful than light elsewhere ! 



Moore. 



