13 



But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes 



Or Cytherea's breath ; pale primroses, 



That die unmarried ere they can behold 



Bright Phoebus in his strength ; * * 



* * * bold oxlips, and 



The crown-imperial ; lilies of all kinds, 



The flower-de-luce being one. Winter's Tale. 



Of all the gentle and welcome company, not one but lifts 

 its starry cup or hangs its clustering bells upon the spiral 

 stem. And oh, still stranger transformation, when this 

 treasured darling of an hour, so rich in glowing charms 

 and fragrant with delicious sweetness, yields to the immut- 

 able law of its destiny ; refolds the vital principle of its 

 being within the shapeless and scentless husk, and flings 

 itself once more to its wonted repose in the embraces of 

 the fulfilling earth ! 



It were, perhaps, too much to allege that for our use 

 and pleasure alone were created these loveliest objects of 

 the natural world, so curious in contrivance, so matchless 

 in surpassing beauty, so eloquent in the lessons of uner- 

 ring wisdom. Of the original inevitable relation between 

 things beautiful and things morally good, we may form 

 some not irrational conjecture. That they are sadly dis- 

 joined, under our present condition, we well know. But 

 if, as we are told, 



Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth, 



Unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep, — Par. Lost. 



it were not unreasonable to conclude, that, to their celes- 

 tial apprehension, the lovely aspects of creation may afford 

 a delight commensurate with the primal relations between 

 all things in themselves excellent ; that to them, as to the 

 Infinite Author, the loveliness of creation may seem very 

 good. Nor are we capable of understanding how far the 

 inferior orders of being are susceptible of enjoyment from 

 the same sources with ourselves. That their organs are 



