FLORAL EMBLEMS. 255 



But, dear girl, both flowers and beauty 



Blossom, fade, and die away ; 

 Then pursue good sense and duty, 



Ever-greens that ne'er decay." 



Thomson says, 



Observe the rising lily's snowy grace ; 



Observe the various vegetable race ; 



They neither toil nor spin, but careless grow ; 



Yet, see how warm they blush ! how bright they glow ! 



What regal vestments can with them compare ? 



What king so shining, or what queen so fair '? 



PURITY OF SENTIMENT. 



WHITE VIOLET. Viola alba. 



" That strain again it had a dying fall ; 

 O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet breath 

 That breathes upon a bank of violets, 

 Stealing, and giving odour." 



Shakspeare. 



The white pink is also emblematical of 

 purity of sentiment. 



4 



It is observed by Thomson, that 



" From the body's purity, the mind 

 Receives a secret aid." 



