SECT. II. VT&ETAT10N. 2S 



light the eye, that we chiefly cultivate them; and ii\ 

 this refpeft we may exclaim with the poet, 



Who can paint like nature ? Can imagination boaft 

 Amiclft its gay creation, hues like her's ? 

 Or can it mix them with that matchlefs fkill, 

 And lofe them in each other, as appears 



In every bud that blows ? 



Thomson, 



But not only the colours delight the eye, the forms of 

 lowers are objecls of admiration. The leaves of the 

 plants (not to mention the fhades of their green and 

 variegations of other colours) are of various fymmetry, 

 fome plain, others indented, fome hard, fou>e foft, 

 Imooth, hairy, &c. Flowers are compoied, fome of 

 only one, others . of feveral and numerous leaves. 

 Here it appears like a large veflel gracefully opening. 

 There it forms fome grotefque figure, in imitation of a 

 muzzle, head piece, or cowl. Here it is a butterfly, a 

 flar, a crown, a radiant fun. Some are fcattered on 

 the plant without any art ; others compofe nofegays, 

 globes, tufts of feathers, garlands, pyramids, &c. — 

 The feeds of plants too are as variouOy formed as their 

 leaves and flowers. 



The following defcription of Flora s fefilval and 

 the month of May, may very well finifh the notice here 

 taken of flowers. 



The good Pcjihumius chofe the firft of May, 



To Flora facred, and obferved the day 



With holy rural rites, that won by prayer 



She might difFufe her bleffing o'er the year ; 



His homely neighbourhood in green privet drefs'd, 



With ftrici: devotion keep the cheerful feaft, 



And crowned with chaplets, to fair Flora bring 



The firft and frefheft beauties of the fpring. 



Gardens are now with choice perfumes fupplied, 



By thefe and thoufand namelefs fweets befide : 



>Tis 



