THE BEAUTIES OP APRIL AND MAY. 59 



Ranunculus. All bold and graceful, it expands the riches 

 of its foliage, and acquires by degrees the loveliest enamel 

 in the world. As persons of intrinsic worth disdain the 

 superficial arts of recommendation practised by fops, so this 

 lordly flower scorns to borrow any of its excellencies from 

 powders and essences. It needs no such attractions to 

 render it the darling of the curious, being sufficiently enga- 

 ging from the elegance of its figure, the radiant variety of its 

 tinges, and a certain superior dignity of aspect. 



JUNE. 



" Now have young April, and the blue-eyed May, 

 Vanished awhile, and lo ! the glorious June 

 While Nature ripens in his burning noon>) 

 Comes like a young inheritor." 



I had intended to confine our meditations to the beauties 

 of April and May, but Nature seems to improve in her 

 operations. Her latest strokes are the most masterly. To 

 crown the collection, she introduces the Carnation, which 

 captivates our eyes with a noble spread of graces, and 

 charms another sense with a profusion of exquisite odours. 

 This single flower has centered in itself the perfection of all 

 the preceding. The moment it appears, it so commands 

 our attention, that we scarcely regret the absence of the rest. 



"Maternal Flora, with benignant hand, ' 

 Her flowers profusely scatters o'er the land : 

 These deck the vallies with unnumber'd hues, 

 And far around their pregnant sweets diffuse ; 

 The broad carnations, gay and spotted Pinks, 

 Are shower d profuse along the rivers' brinks," 



The field we have entered is so extensive and so enchant- 

 ing, that we cannot extricate ourselves, without taking a 

 cursory glance at the airs and habits, the attitude and linea- 

 ments, of each distinct class. See the Paionia of China, 



