ROSES. 77 



Thus charged, they sock the hnnord shade, 



W^hcrt" lived and d'ii'd th,. spotless maid, 

 Oil a soft courli of turf tlie body lay : 

 Th' approaching deities passed all around, 



Prepared the sacred riles to pay 



In silence, and with awe profound. 

 Flora thrice bow'd, and thus was heard to pray : — 



"Jove, mighty Jove, whom all adore, 



Exert thy great creating power ! 

 Let this fair corpse be mortal clay no more: 

 Transform it to a tree, to bear a beauteous flower." 



Scarce liad the goddess spoke, when, see, 

 The nymph's extended limbs the form of branches wear, 

 Behold the wond'rous change, the fragrant tree! 



To leaves was turn'd her tlowing hair. 

 And rich ditiused perfumes regaled the wanton air. 



Heaven! what new charm, what sudden light, 

 Improves the grot, and entertains the sight! 

 A sproutuig bud begins the tree t" adorn — 

 The large, tlie sweet Vermillion flower is born! 

 The goddess thrice on the fair infant breathed, 



To spread it into life, and to convey 

 The fragrant soul, and every grace bequeathed, 

 To make the vegetable priticess gay. 

 Tlien kiss'd it thrice; the general silence broke, 

 And thus in loud rejoicing accents spoke: — 



** Ye Flowers, at my command, attendant here 

 pay homage, and your sovereign Rosk revere! 

 ^i) sorrow on your drooping leaves be seen. 



Let all be proud ofsucli a (jueen, 



feo fit the Moral crown to wear. 

 To glorify tiie day, and grace the youthful year!" 



Thus speaking, phe the new-born fiv'rite crowned; 



The iranslurmation was complete: 



Tlie deities with songs tlie (jueen of flowers did greet. 

 Soft flutes and tuneful Jiarps were heard to sound. 

 While now to heaven, well pleaded, the goddess tiies 

 W'itii her bright train, and rcasceuds the skies. 



