THE BEAUTIES OP APRIL AND MAY. 59 



ence in almost every individual. Scarcely any two are turned 

 and tinted exactly alike. What colours, what colours are 

 here ! these so nobly bold, and those so delicately languid ! 

 What a glow is enkindled in some ! what a gloss shines 

 upon others ! With what a masterly skill is every one of the 

 varying tints disposed ! Here they seem to be thrown on with 

 an easy dash of security and freedom ; there they are adjusted 

 by the nicest touches of art and accuracy. Those colours 

 which form the ground are always so judiciously chosen, as 

 to heighten the lustre of the superadded figures ; while the 

 verdure of the impalement, or shadings of the foliage, im- 

 part new liveliness to the whole. Fine, inimitably fine, is 

 the texture of the web on which these shining treasures are 

 displayed. What are the labours of the Persian looms ; 

 what all the gay attire which the shuttle or the needle can 

 furnish, compared with Nature's works 1 One cannot for- 

 bear reflection in this place, on the too prevailing humour of 

 being fond and ostentatious of dress. What an abject and 

 mistaken ambition is this ! How unworthy the dignity of 

 man, and the wisdom of rational beings ! Especially since 

 these little productions of the earth have indisputably the 

 pre-eminence in such outward embellishments. 



"Bright Tulips, we do Know, 

 Ye had your coming hither, 

 And fading time doth show, 

 That ye must quickly wither. 



* Your sisterhood may stay, 



And smile here for an hour, 

 But ye must quickly die away, 

 E'en as the meanest flower. 



* Come, virgins, then, and see 



Your frailties, and bemoan ye ; 

 For lost like these 'twill be 

 As time had never known ye." 



But let us not forget the fragrant, the very fragrant Wall 

 and Gilyflowers ; some of these regale us with their per- 



