178 FLORA'S INTERPRETER 



ROSE, CHINA. Native of Japan and China. It u 

 J>* a * v..,7/;/7^^^ shrub of luxuriant growth, flowers in 



Rosa multiflora. clugter8) gaid to be white ^ China> but 



here they are pink. 



* 



GRACE. 



Resplendent rose/ the flower of flowers, 

 Whose breath perfumes Olympus' bowers, 

 Whose virgin blush of chastened dye 

 Enchants so much our mental eye. 



Greek Poet trans, by Moore. 



SENTIMENT. 



Oh, say not, wisest of all the kings 



That have risen on Israel's throne to reign 



Say not, as one of your wisest things, 

 That grace is false, and beauty vain! 



Is beauty vain, because it will fade ? 



Then are earth's green robe and heaven's light 



vain; 

 For this shall be lost in evening's shade, 



And that in winter's sleety rain. 



But earth's green mantle, pranked with flowers, 

 Is the couch where life with joy reposes; 



And heaven gives down, with its light and showers, 

 To regale them, fruits to deck them, roses. 



And while opening flowers in such beauty spread, 

 And ripening frtiits so gracefully swing, 



Say not, O king, as you just now said, 

 That beauty or grace is a worthless thing. 



Pierpont. 



