178 FLORA'S LEXICON. 



OSE, SWEET-BRIAR. Rosa Suaveolens. 

 Class 12, Icosandria. Order: Polygy/nia. 

 This is the common Sweet-Briar of our 

 country. The flowers and the leaves both 

 shed a delicious fragrance. It is a great 

 favourite with florists as well as poets and 

 ^ sentimental writers of all classes. 



IMAGINATION. 



Then Fancy beckon'd, and with smiling mien, 



A radiant form arose, like the fair Queen 



Of Beauty : from her eye divinely bright, 



A richer lustre shot, a more attractive light. 



She said, "With fairer tints I can adorn 



The living landscape, fairer than the morn. 



The summer-clouds in shapes romantic roll'd, 



And those that edge the fading west, like gold ; 



The lake that sleeps in sun-light, yet impress'd 



With shades more sweet than real, on its breast ; 



'Mid baffling stones, beneath a partial ray, - 



The small brook huddling ks uneven way ; 



The bluey fading hills, the silvery sea, 



And every scene of summer speaks of me : 



But most I wake the sweetest wishes warm, 



Where the fond gaze is turn'd on woman's breathing form." 



So passing silent through a myrtle grove, 

 Beauty first led him to the bower of Love. 

 A mellow light through the dim covert stray'd, 

 And opening roses canopied the shade. 

 Why does the hurrying pulse unbidden leap? 

 Behold, in yonder glade the Nymph asleep ! 

 The heart-struck Minstrel hangs, with ling'ring gaze, 

 O'er every charm his eye impassioned strays ! 



Bowles. 



