144 FLORA AND THALIA. 



THE WALL-FLOWER. 



The wall-flower — the wall-flower! 



How beautiful it blooms ! 

 It gleams above the ruin'd tower, 



Like sunlight over tombs ; 

 It sheds a halo of repose 



Around the wrecks of time ; 

 To beauty give the flaunting rose, 



The wall-flower is sublime. 



Flower of the solitary place ! 



Grey Ruin's golden crown ! 

 That lendest melancholy grace 



To haunts of old renown ; 

 Thou mantlest o'er the battlement, 



By strife or storm decayed ; 

 And fillest up each envious rent 



Time's canker-tooth hath made. 



Whither hath fled the choral band 

 That fiU'd the abbey's nave 1 



