FLORA'S LEXICON 



211 



ULIP. Tulipa. Class 6, Hexandria. Or- 

 der: Monogynia. On the banks of the 

 Bosphorus the tulip is the emblem of incon- 

 stancy ; but it is also the symbol of the 

 most violent love. The wild tulip is found 

 in the fields of Byzantium, with its crimson 

 '< petals and golden heart. 



A DECLARATION OF LOVE. 



Now for madcap Isabel — 



What shall suit her, pr'ythee tell? 



Isabel is brown and wild ; 



Will be evermore a child ; 



Is all laughter, all vagary, 



Has the spirit of a fairy. 



Are you gravel — The gipsy sly 



Turns on you her merry eye, 



And you laugh, despite your will. w 



Isabel is never still, 



Always doing, never done, 



Be it mischief, work, or fun. 



Isabel is short and brown, 



Soft to touch as eider-down; 



Temper'd like the balmy south, 



With a rosy, laughing mouth; 



Cheeks just tinged with peachy red, 



And a graceful Hebe-head ; 



Hair put up in some wild way, 



Deck'd with a hedge-rose's spray. 



Now, where is the bud or bell 



That may match with Isabel 1 ? 



Streaky tulip, jet and gold, 

 Dearly priced whenever sold ; 

 Rich in colour, low and sweet, 

 This for Isabel is meet. 



HOW ITT. 



