FLORA AND THALIA. 141 



I sought — but sudden on mine ear 

 A voice in hollow murmurs broke, 



And smote my heart with holy fear, 

 The Genius of the Ruin spoke. 



"From thee be far th' ungentle deed. 

 The honours of the dead to spoil. 



Or take the sole remaining meed, 



The flower that crowns their former toil ! 



" Nor deem that flower the garden's foe. 

 Or fond to grace this barren shade ; 



'Tis nature tells her to bestow 

 Her honours on the lonely dead. 



" For this, obedient zephyrs bear 



Her light seeds round yon turret's mould, 



And undispersed by tempests there, 

 They rise in vegetable gold. 



" Nor shall thy wonder wake to see 

 Such desert scenes distinction era vie ; 



Oft have they been, and oft shall be 



Truth's, Honour's, Valour's, Beauty's grave. 



" Where longs to fall that rifted spire, ' 



As weary of the insulting air ; 

 The poet's thought, the warrior's fire, 



The lover's sighs are sleeping there. 



