THE FABLES OF FLORA. 19 



Her moral thus the matron read, 

 Studious to teach her children dear. 



And they by love, or duty led. 



With pleasure heard, or seemed to hear. 



Yet one less duteous, not less fair, 

 (In convents still the tale is known) 



The fable heard with silent care. 

 But found a moral of her own. 



The flower that smiled along the day. 

 And droop'd in tears at evening's fall; 



Too well she found her life display. 

 Too well her fatal lot recall. 



The treacherous Ivy's gloomy shade. 

 That murdered what it most embraced. 



Too well that cruel scene conveyed 

 Which all her fairer hopes effaced. 



