THE ENCHANTED PLANTS. 228 



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." 



