CEREUS. 125 



Yes, peerless flower ! the heavens alone exhale 

 Thy fragrance, while the glittering stars attest; 

 A.nd incense, wafted from the midnight gale, 

 Untainted rises iVom thy spotless breast. 

 Sweet emblem of that faith, which seeks, apart 

 From human praise, to love and work unseen ; 

 That gives to Heaven an undivided heart — 

 In sorrow steadfast, and in joy serene ! 

 Anchor'd on God, no adverse cloud can dim ; 

 Her eye, unalter'd, still is fix'd on Him ! 



TO THE NIGHT. BLOWING CEREUS. 

 H. I. JOHNS. 



Flower of the Night ! mysteriously awake 

 When Earth's green tribes repose, why stealthful thus 

 Comest thou to meet the stars — unfolding soft. 

 Beneath their tranquil ray, thy peerless formi 

 Flower of the night ! chaster than Alpine snows — 

 Unvisited by aught save Heaven's sweet breath — 

 Why hide thy loveliness from mortal eye. 

 Why pour thy fragrance to the unconscious night? 

 — Thou art, alas ! too exquisitely fair. 

 Too pure for Earth's corrupted denizens ! 

 Yet not in vain thy odoriferous breath, 

 And beauty all unearthly : He who thus 

 Hath fashion'd thee a chaste and midnight gem; 

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