1 4^8 ELMlNA, A TALE. . JunC I, 



(lie, I come not to interrupt your mirth ; but I heard Elml- 

 na fing a ballad, in which (he fpoke of a flower that never 

 fades ; by what I have heard her fay, and what I have feen 

 of her, I think, her worthy of the precious gift I mean to 

 beftow upon her. My love, continued (he, in approaching 

 to the young princefs, who liftened to her with aftonidiment, 

 take this branch, on which there are four flowers and two 

 buds ; it is the flower which never fa^es ; I make you a pre- 

 fent of it ; cultivate it with care ; but know, my fweet love, 

 it is not by watering that you will preferve it. , Obferve this 

 flower of fuch a lively carnation ; it is t\\^ flower of modefly : 

 as long as your cheeks can be fulFufed with this colour, it 

 will preferve its own in all its luftre. The fecond flower 

 is of the pureft white ; it is called the flower of virtue : it 

 will be fuUied whenever you fail in your duty. The. 

 third, of a yellow brilliant as gold, is called the flower 

 of beneficence : if you (hall be always good, it will continue 

 beautiful. The fourth is of a celeftial blue ; it is thefloirer 

 of gentlenefs : every time that Elmina becomes impatient or 

 fretful, this charming flower will tarnifh. This bud, which 

 begins to open, continued the old woman, will produce the 

 flower of genius : it will expand in proportion as your mind 

 becomes more cultivated, and thus mark the progrefs you 

 make in knowledge. The other bud contains the flower of 

 graceful elegance : it will expand without your thinking of 

 it, if the others continue to flouri(h, and will ferve to add 

 frefh luftre, aad inimitable beauty to the whole." Ah ma- 

 dam, cried the princefs in taking the flower, how (hall I 

 exprefs my gratitude for this precious gift ? Come, I pray 

 you, with me \ Lindorine (hall tellify her gratitude and mine. 

 My child, faid Verdurine, you cannot give me a more pleaf- 

 ing proof of your gratitude, than by (hewing me, fome time 

 hence, the flower I now give you, in all its original frelli- 

 nefs. I will return hither in three years ; and if then you 

 can (hew me this flower in all its freftinefs and purity, it 

 will continue for ever the fame. 



In faying this, Verdurine made up to the other young la- 

 dies, and gave each of them fome flowers from her enchafit-' 

 ed tree to cultivate j to fome of them (he gave (ive, to others 

 four, according as (he knew the goodnefs of tlieir difpofi- 

 fions. It is pretended, that Malinette only received am 



