22 FLORA AND THALIA. 



The negligence of nature, wide and wild ; 

 There, undisguised by mimic art, she spreads 

 Unbounded beauty to the roving eye ; 

 Here, their delicious task, the fervent bees. 

 In swarming millions, tend ; around, athwart, 

 Through the soft air the busy nations fly, • 

 Cling to the bud, and, with inserted tube, 

 Suck its pure essence, its ethereal soul ; 

 And oft, with bolder wing, they soaring dare 

 The purple heath, or where the wild thyme growls, 

 And yellow load them with the luscious spoil. 

 At length the finish'd garden to the view 

 Its vistas opens, and its alleys green. 

 Snatch'd through the verdant maze, the hurried eye 

 Distracted wanders ; now the bow'ry walk 

 Of covert close, where scarce a speck of day 

 Falls on the lengthen'd gloom, protracted sweeps — 

 Now meets the bending sky ; the river now 

 DimpUng along, the breezy ruffled lake. 

 The forest dark'ning round, the glitt'ring spire, 

 Th' ethereal mountain, and the distant main. 

 But why so far extensive ] v^hen, at hand, 

 Along these blushing borders, bright with dew, 

 And, in yon mingled wilderness of flow'rs. 

 Fair-handed Spring unbosoms ev'ry grace ; 

 Throws out the snow-drop and the crocus first ; 

 The daisy, primrose, violet darkly blue, 

 And polyanthus of unnumber'd dyes ; 



