218 FLORA AND THALIA. 



APRIL FLOWERS. 



NoH, April, fail with scent and hue, 

 To grace thee lowlier blossoms new. 

 Not only that, where weak and scant 

 Peep'd forth the early primrose plant. 

 Now shine profuse unnumbered eyes, 

 Like stars that stud the wint'ry skies ; 

 But that its sister cowslip's nigh, 

 With no unfriendly rivalry 

 Of form and tint, and fragrant smells. 

 O'er the green fields their yellow bells 

 Unfold, bedropt with tawny red. 

 And meekly bend the drooping head. 

 Not only thkt the fringed edge 

 . Of heath, or bank, or pathway hedge, 

 Glows with the furze's golden bloom ; 

 But mingling now, the verdant broom, 

 With flowers of rival lustre deck'd, 

 Uplifts its shapelier form erect. 



And there upon the sod below, 

 Ground-ivy's purple blossoms show, 

 Like helmet of crusader knight, 

 Its anthers' crosslike forms of white ; 

 And lesser periwinkle's bloom. 

 Like carpet of Damascus' loom. 

 Pranks with bright blue the tissue wove, 

 Of verdant foliage : and above, 



