174 FLORA'S LEXICON, 



OSE BUD, Who can say whether the 

 white rose, or the red, the budding, or the 

 full blown, has been most celebrated? Oft, 

 indeed, have all been sung ; and the rose 

 bud, from its grace, and gradually maturing 

 beauty, has not been inappropriately made 

 emblematical of a young girl. 



YOUNG GIRL. 



The gentle budding rose, quoth she, behold, 

 That first scant peeping forth with morning beams, 

 Half ope, half shut, her beauties doth unfold, 

 In its fair leaves, and less seen, fairer seems; 

 And after spreads them forth, more fair and bold. 



Fairfax. 



A maid of sixteen years, of twilight eyes, 

 Deep set and dark, and fringed with pencil dyes, 

 Her forehead not too high, where thick black hair, 

 Comb'd smooth and parted, show'd the whiteness there; 

 Her lips of changeless carmine, often parted 

 With dimpling smiles, when sweet sensation started 

 In thoughts so pure, an angel's self would choose them, 

 Robed in the blush that mantled from her bosom ; 

 Her form of rounded symmetry, where art 

 That makes so many beauties, bore no part; 

 With mind untutor'd, yet so constituted, 

 She never spake amiss, nor e'er disputed ; 

 A girl like this, who would not love and cherish] 

 Or having won her heart, could leave that heart to perish? 



Dawes. 



The bloom of opening flowers' unsullied beauty, 

 Softness, and sweetest innocence she wears, 

 And looks like nature in the world's first spring. 



Rowe. 



