— 103 — 



THE HOLINESS OF NATURE. 



Written ts the Botanical G-abden, Maueitius 1848. 



I 



Now is the hour of meditation ; Now 

 Fresh as the Orient morn, the spirit plumes 

 Its wings in darkness furled, and from its brow 

 Shakes off the clouds of sleep. Earth reassumes 

 Its verdurous beauty, and the ruggy crests 

 Of yon fantastic mountains gleam with light — 

 Sun-heralding splendours which flowerets' breasts, 

 Circled with dewy pearls, flash back most bright 

 And delicate as the ray of timid love 

 Speaking from Virgin eyes ! Harmonious gush 

 The streamlets through the interpendent grove 

 Where trees of stateliest growth catch the warm blush 

 Of morning, and exhale their fragrance forth — 

 Balmiest tribute to the soil which gave them birth. 



II 



Each leafy nook, each mossy avenue 



Is redolent with loveliness and flings 



Its soft enchantment o'er the soul, and brings 



A thousand forms of sha dowy life to view. 



Illustrious Poivre (*) man of simplest mind, 



Just, independant, virtue's friend sincere, 



la whom the love of science was combined 



With Nature's veneration— thou didst here 



Trace the first plan of all this flowery maze ; 



And consecrating youth and thy best blood, 



And the wise eff'orts of laborious days 



Not for thy own, but for thy country's good, 



Thankless it let a jealous host assail 



Thy well earned fame, though soon thy genius did prevail. 



(*) Mr. Poivre was the founder of the Botanical Gardens at Pamplemoua- 

 ses— " A son letour des Moluques en 1772," dit M. Husson, " il traga pr&s 

 " do Mont Plaisir, sa re'sidence habituelle quelques carres de terra pour 

 " lenr confier les plants de girofliers et de muscadiera qu'il avait su parvenir 

 •' aenleverdes ties a epiceries, malgre lajalouse surTeillance des Hollan- 

 " dais, &c." It was from this little nursery at Mauritius that Bourbon, 

 the Antilles, Cayenne and la Guyana were supplied for the first time with 

 the clove, nutmeg and cinnamon trees. 



