Use of Plant and Flower 235 



As soon as I my arms display. 



The Dropsy, which man's microcosm drowns, 



Pulling up all the juices in its rounds; 



I follow it through ev'ry winding vein, 



And make it quit in haste the delug'd man. 



The nation of the Jews, a pious folk, 



Though our gods they don't invoke, 



And not to you, ye Plants! unknown 



F th' days of that florist Solomon, 



Tell us that Jove, to cheer the drooping ball, 



After the flood a promise past, 



That so long as earth should last, 



No future deluge on the world should fall; 



And as a seal to this obliging grant, 



The rainbow in the sky did plant. 



I am that bow, in poor hydropic man 



The same refreshing hopes contain; 



I look as gay, and shew as fine, 



I am the thing of which that only is the sign: 



My Plant performs the same, 



Towards man's little worldly frame; 



And when within him I appear, 



He needs no deluge from a dropsy fear. 



Cowley: Of Flowers. Tr. by C. Cleve. 



CUT FLOWERS. The flowers are fragile and when 

 fully open do not bear much handling. 



The sweetest flowers are ever frail and rare. 



Shelley: Marenghi. 



