FLORA DOMESTICA. 



" In youth from rock to rock I went, 

 From hill to hill, in discontent 

 Of pleasure high and turbulent, 



Most pleased when most uneasy ; 

 But now my own delights I make, 

 My thirst at every rill can slake, 

 And gladly Nature's love partake 



Of thee, sweet daisy ! 



" When soothed awhile by milder airs, 

 Thee Winter in the garland wears 

 That thinly shades his few grey hairs ; 



Spring cannot shun thee ; 

 Whole summer fields are thine by right ; 

 And Autumn, melancholy wight, 

 Doth in thy crimson head delight, 



When rains are on thee. 



" In shoals and bands, a morrice train, 

 Thou greet'st the traveller in the lane ; 

 If welcomed once, thou count'st it gain ; 



Thou art not daunted, 

 Nor carest if thou be set at nought ; 

 And oft alone in nooks remote 

 We meet thee, like a pleasant thought, 

 When such are wanted. 



" Be violets in their secret mews 

 The flowers the wanton Zephyrs choose ; 

 Proud be the rose, with rains and dews 



Her head impearling ; 

 Thou liv'st with less ambitious aim, 

 Yet hast not gone without thy fame ; 

 Thou art indeed by many a claim 

 The poet's darling. 



" If to a rock from rains he fly, 

 Or some bright day of April sky, 

 Imprisoned by hot sunshine lie 



Near the green holly, 

 And wearily at length should fare ; 

 He need but look about, and there 

 Thou art ! a friend at hand, to scare 



His melancholy. 



