THE ENCHANTED PLANTS. 213 



FABLE II. 



SCANDAL, 



OB THE PAINTED LADY 8WEET-PBA. 



GAY Anemone, daughter of Ar 



(Her ancestors sprung from the wood) 



To Ranunculus, friend of her heart, 

 Chattered scandal as fast as she could. 



One evening the subject she chose, 



Was peculiarly painful to me ; 

 For my favourite next to the Rose, 



Is the pink-and-white sweet-scented Pea. 



"Look there !" said the fanciful flower, 

 (By whimsical botanists dressed) 



How yon vain youthful plant of an hour, 

 Smiles and flaunts like a beauty professed, 



Though with us in the garden displayed, 



Unimproved her corollas remain, 

 Still blushing, unformed, unarrayed, 



Like her cousins who bask on the plain." 



