FLORA AND THALIA. 25 



What artist could improve their bloom, 

 Or 'meliorate their sweet perfume ? 

 Fruitless the vain attempt ! Like these, 

 Thy native truth, — thine artless ease, 

 Fair, unaffected maid, can never fail to please. 



IlICHARDSOX. 



THE CLOSE OF SPRING. 



The gju-lands fade that Spring so lately wove. 



Each simple flower which she has nursed in dew,— 

 Anemones, that spangled every grove ; 



The Primrose wan, and Harebell mildly blue : 

 No more shall Violets linger in the dell, 



Or purple Orchis variegate the plain : 

 Till Spring again shall call forth every -bell, 



And dress with humid hands her wreaths again. 

 Oh poor humanity ! so frail, so fair. 



Are the fond visions of thy early day ; 

 Till tyrant passion, and corrosive care, 



Bid all thy fairy colours fade away ; 

 Another May new buds and flowers shall bring : 



Ah ! why has happiness no second Spring 1 



CHARLES SMITH. 



