76 THE PLOfllST. 



FLOWERS. 



Consider the lilies of the field .... even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed 



like one of these." 



With what emotion glows the inmost soul 



In contemplation of the mighty power 



Of those twin-sister children of the mind, 



Painting and Poetry — this on the page, 



That on the canvas, tracing wondrous scenes 



Of human life and jS'ature's beauteousness, — 



Subservient both to Genius, within bounds 



Which even Genius may not overleap ! 



* -ifr -x- -x- -x- 



The limner's pencil and the poet's pen 

 Alike are impotent to designate 

 The loveliness of flowers, those " stars of earth," 

 That sparkle on her ever-joyous bosom, 

 Like jewels in the girdle of a queen. 

 Yet who but feels their beauty — whether it be 

 Of form oi: colour, odour exquisite. 

 Or infinite variety ? While some 

 Uprear their lofty heads in gaudy pride, 

 As if self-conscious of their glowing charms, 

 Others, meek emblems of humility. 

 Scarce rise above the ground whereon they grow, 

 To woo the matin sun. The VIOLET thus 

 Blooms unassuming on the grassy banks, 

 Scattering her perfume wide, herself unseen. 

 Close by, her sister PRIMROSE, herald meet 

 Of coming Spring, peeps mildly forth and smiles 

 ' Upon the tras-eller's journey, far admired 

 By botanist and poet, and by all 

 Who, with the lowliest of created things, 

 As with the most exalted, love to hold 

 Deep converse and communion mystical, — 

 Who worship Nature in her holiest fanes. 

 And seek, amid the creatures of their God, 

 The glorious and the beautiful. From out 

 The ice-bound earth, see, how the SNOWDROP bares 

 Her hardy bosom to the frosts of heaven ! 

 Not long to pine in solitude. Impelled 

 By pleasing rivalry, the emulous CROCUS, 

 In cloth-of-gold or purple vest bedight. 

 Steps gaily forth, and boldly challenges 

 Old Winter to the combat. He, secure 

 In rugged veteran strength, looks grimly down, 

 Contemptuous, on the stripling ; as, of yore, 

 The pagan giant smiled with proud disdain, 

 On Israel's shepherd-champion. But the " man 

 Of war " confronts an agile foe, who seizes 

 The veil of Spring, and with a dexterous cast 

 Involves the hoary tyrant in its folds. 

 And half obscures the terrors of his form. 

 Soon as the wreathed snow dissolves away, 

 Death-smitten by the dart of vernal sun. 

 The liberal Earth again unlocks her casket. 

 And scatters widely, with unsparing hand. 

 Her treasures hoarded well and thriftily — 

 Gems of surpassing lustre. Shrinking now. 

 Abashed to meet the rapturous gaze of light. 

 The LILY OF THE VALE, clothed like a bride 



