ROSE-BUSH. 329 



April's enchanting herald. 

 Thou flower supremely blest. 

 And queen of all the flowers. 

 Thou formest around my locks 

 A garland of such fragrance. 

 That up to Heaven itself 

 Thy balmy sweets ascend." 



Andrein's Adam. 



Our delicate Eglantine has been scarcely less honoured 

 by the poets than the more luxuriant Roses. It is usually 

 coupled with the Woodbine, as the Lily with the Rose, 

 the Myrtle with the Bay, or Beaumont with Fletcher. 

 Shenstone, in describing the dehghts of a country walk 

 after long confinement in sickness, makes particular men- 

 tion of this fragrant pair : 



" Come gentle air ! and while the thickets bloom. 

 Convey the jasmine's breath divine ; 

 Convey the woodbine's rich perfume. 

 Nor spare the sweet-leafed eglantine." 



" Yonder is a girl who lingers 

 Where wild honeysuckle grows, 

 JVlinghng with the briar-rose ; 

 And with eager outstretched fingers. 

 Tip-toe standing, vainly tries 

 To reach the hedge-enveloped prize." 



H. Smith. 



" ^Vound in the hedge-row's oaken boughs 

 The woodbine's tassels float in air. 

 And, blushing, the uncultured rose 

 Hangs high her beauteous blossoms there." 



Mrs. C. Smith. 



The two latter passages equally apply to the Common 

 Wild Rose ; which can boast the praise of Chaucer : 



" As swetc as is the bramble floure 

 That bereth the red hepe." 



