164 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



See the primrose sweetly set 



By the much-loved violet. 



All the bankes doe sweetly cover 



As they would invite a lover 



With his lassj to see their dressing. 



And to grace them by their pressing." 



W. Browne, 



" 'Tis May, the Grace, — confess'd she stands 

 By branch of hawthorn in her hands ; 

 Lo ! near her trip the lightsome dews. 

 Their wings all tinged in iris hues ; 

 With whom the powers of Flora play. 

 And paint with pansies all the way." 



Warton. 



Philips, in his Letter from Copenhagen, beautifully 

 describes the appearance of the Hawthorn in the winter : 



" In pearls and rubies rich the hawthorns show. 

 While through the ice the crimson berries glow." 



There is a beautiful address to the Hawthorn in the 

 poems of Ronsard. The following version*, which is 

 from the pen of the Rev. Mr. Gary, is so faithful, and so 

 happy, that the French poet will suffer no injustice if we 

 quote the translation only : 



'' Fair hawthorn flowering. 



With green shade bowering 

 Along this lovely shore ; 



To thy foot around 



With his long arms wound 

 A wild vine has mantled thee o'er. 



" In armies twain, 



Red ants have ta'en 

 Their fortress beneath thy stock : 



And in clefts of thy trunk 



Tiny bees have sunk 

 A cell where honey they lock. 



* See " Notices of the Early French Poets," in the London Maga- 

 zine, vol. V. p 511. 



