THE FABLES OF FLORA. 61 



" Shall the bright daughter of the Sun 

 "Associate with the^ shrubs of earth? 



** Ye slaves, your sovereign's presence shun! 

 " Respect her beauties and her birth. 



"And thou, dull, sullen ever-green! 



" Shalt thou my shining sphere invade? 

 " My noon-day beauties beam unseen, 



" Obscured beneath thy dusky shade!" 



"Deluded flower!" the Myrtle cries, 

 " Shall we thy moment's bloom adore? 



" The meanest shrub that you despise, 

 " The meanest flower has merit more. 



" That daisy in its simple bloom, 

 " Shall last along the changing year; 



" Blush on the snow of winter's gloom, 

 ** And bid the smiling spring appear. 



