THE LOBELIA CARDINALIS. 15 



He pluck d the iris, deeply blue, 



The amaryllis, bright, 

 And stor d their treasures through the day, 



But cast them forth at night. 



He bound the water-lily white, 



Amid her lustrous hair, 

 But found her black and flashing eye 



Requir d a gem more rare. 



At length, beside its mantling pool, 



Majestic and serene, 

 He saw the proud Lobelia tower 



In beauty, like a queen. 



That eve, the maiden s ebon locks 



ReveaFd its glowing power, 

 Amid the simple, nuptial rites 



That grac d the chieftain s bower. 



But she, who, by that stately flower, 



Her lover s preference knew, 

 Was doom d, alas ! in youthful bloom, 



To share its frailty, too ; 



For ere again its scarlet spire 



Rejoic d in summer s eye, 

 She droop d amid her forest home 



Her fount of life was dry. 



