FLORA'S INTERPRETER. 177 



H.OSE BUD. (JJ/OSS.) A rote bud jnst opening, accord- 



Rosa muscosa. ^p. 10 . Berk ' e y >8 Utopia, u 



declaration of love. 

 CONFESSION. 



The gentle budding rose, quoth she, behold, 

 That first scant peeping forth with morning beams, 

 Halt' ope, half shut, her beauties doth unfold 

 In its fair leaves, and less seen fairer seems. 



Fairfax. 



SENTIMENT. 



The sporting sylphs that course the air, 

 Unseen, on wings that twilight weaves, 



Around the opening rose repair, 



And breathe sweet incense o'er its leaves 



With sparkling cups of bubbles made, 

 They catch the ruddy beams (if day, 



And steal the rainbow's sweeter shade, 

 Their blushing favorite to array. 



They gather gems with sunbeams bright, 

 From Boating clouds and falling showers; 



They rob Aurora's locks of light, 



To grace their own fair queen of flowers. 



Thus, thus adorned, the speaking rose 



Becomes a token fit to tell 

 Of things that words can ne'er disclose, 



And nought but this reveal s*o well. 



Then take my flower, and let its leaves 

 Beside thy heart be cherished near, 



While that confiding heart receives 

 The thought it whispers to thine ear. 



Token, 18SO 



