14 FLORA AND THALIA. 



THE ROSE-BUD. 



Beauteous Kose-bud, young and gay, 



Blooming in the early May ; 



Never mayst thou, lovely flow'r. 



Chilly shrink in sleety show'r ! 



Never Boreas' hoary path, 



Never Eurus' pois'nous breath, 



Never baleful stellar lights, 



Taint thee with untimely blights ! 



Never, never, reptile thief. 



Riot on thy virgin leaf! 



Not even Sol too fiercely view 



Thy bosom blushing still with dew! 



Mayst thou long, sweet crimson gem, 



Richly deck thy native stem ; 



Till some ev'ning, sober, calm. 



Dropping dews, and breathing balm, 



"While all around the woodland rings, 



And ev'ry bird thy requiem sings; 



Thou, amid the dirgeful sound, 



Shed thy dying honours round, 



And resign to parent earth. 



The loveliest form she e'er gave birth. 



B17RKS. 



