76 



ROSES. 



Among the rival flower? will grow 1 

 The vilest thistle that infests the plain, 



Will think his tawdry painted pride 



Deserves the crown, and, il denied. 

 Perhaps with traitor plots molest your reign.&quot; 



&quot; Vain are your fears,&quot; Flora replied; 



-&quot; Tis fix d, and hear how I ll the cause decide. 



&quot; Deep in a venerable wood. 



Where oak.s, with vocal skill indued, 

 Did wotad rous oracles of old impait, 

 Beneath a little hill s inclining side, 



A grotto s seen, where Nature s art 

 Is exercised in all her smiling pride. 



&quot; Retired in this sweet grassy cell, 



A Lovely wood-nymph once did dwell: 

 She always pleased; for more than mortal fire 

 Shone in her eyes, and did her charms inspire, 

 A dryad bore the illustrious nymph, a sylvan was her sire 



&quot; Chaste, wise, devout, she still obey d, 

 With humble zeal, Heaven s dread commands, 



To ev ry action ask d our aid, 



And oft before our altars pray d. 

 Pure was her heart, and undefined her hands. 



&quot; She s dead, and from her sweet remains 



The woud rous mixture f would take, 

 This much desired, this perfect flower to make; 



Assist. uid thus, with our transforming pains, 

 We ll diguify the garden beds, and grace our fav rite plains. 



Th applauding deities with pleasure heard, 



And for the, grateful work preuared. 



A busy face Priapus wore; 



Vertumnus of the partv too, 

 From various sweets th exhaling spirits drew; 

 While iu full canisters Pomona bore 



Of richest fruit a plenteous store j ! 

 And Vesta promisee! wond rous things to do. 



(iay Venus le.d a lively train 

 Of Smiles and Graces; the plump god of wine 

 From clusters did the flowing nectar strain, 

 ,Aud fill d large goblets with his juice divine. 



