48 FLORA AND THALIA. 



THE WINTER ROSE. 



Hail, and farewell, thou lovely guest ! 



I may not woo thy stay ; 

 The hues that paint thy glowing vest 



Are fading fast away, 

 Like the returning tints that die 

 At evening on the w^estern sky. 

 And melt in misty grey. 



It was but now thy radiant smile 

 Broke through the season's gloom, 



As bending I inhaled awhile 

 Thy breathing of perfume ; 



And traced on every silken leaf, 



A tale of summer, sweet and brief. 



And sudden as thy doom. 



The morning sun thy petals hail'd. 



New from their mossy cell ; 

 At eve his beam, in sorrow veil'd, 



Bade thee a last farewell. 

 To-morrow's ray shall mark the spot, 

 Where, loosen'd from their fairy knot, 

 Thy withering beauties fell. 



AJfOIf. 



