THE ENCHANTED PLANTS. 223 



The Flower, as a Lady spoke first 



And (illiberal Satire says) most, 

 Sweets, garlands, charms, emblems rehearsed, 



And made lovers, and sonnets, her boast. 



But this was so common a ditty, 



And the shrub held her merits so cheap, 



That he swore she was pretty and witty, 

 And besought her her counsel to keep. 



"Thy delights," added he, " are confessed. 

 Truly nature has made thy race fair, 



But thy beauties by monarchs caressed, 

 Thy favors e'en cottagers share. 



"We shrubs of a lineage refined, 

 Ne'er stoop with plebeians to bloom, 



Though Syringas, of ignoble kind, 

 By chance may the village perfume. 



" So graceful our flexible arms, 



Such fragrance our blossoms exhale, 



That e'en forest-trees envy our charms, 

 And parterres with vexation turn pale." 



