40 The Rose Garden. 



In the spring of 1827 Dr Raffles of Liverpool visited Weston-under-Wood, and 

 procured from Cowper's garden some Rose bushes which had been cherished by the 

 poet. On this occasion Dr Raffles composed the following lines, and writing to a 

 friend observed " These said Rose bushes are going by the coach immediately to 

 Liverpool, and the gardener tells me he thinks they will survive the journey and 

 flourish. If they do these lines shall be transcribed on a board, and placed in my 

 garden near the spot where they stand : 



And will ye bloom with me so fair, 



Ye Roses plucked from Weston's bowers ? 

 Can ye withstand the northern air, 



Those bleak, those wintry blasts of ours ? 



Then will I prize your modest hue 



Beyond whate'er the eye surveys ; 

 Will linger oft to gaze on you, 



And think of COWPER while I gaze. 



From " Cowper's Rose Bushes" 



A Rosebud by my early walk, 

 Adown a corn enclosed bawk, 

 Sae gently bent its thorny stalk, 

 All on a dewy morning. 



Ere twice the shades o' dawn are fled, 

 In a' its crimson glory spread, 

 And drooping rich the dewy head, 

 It scents the early morning. 



Burns. 



TO MISS CRUIKSHANK, A VERY YOUNG LADY. 



Beauteous Rosebud, young and gay, 

 Blooming in thy early May, 

 Never may'st thou, lovely flower, 

 Chilly shrink in sleety shower ; 

 Never Boreas' hoary path, 

 Never Eurus' poisonous breath. 

 Never baleful stellar lights, 

 Taint thee with untimely blights ! 

 Never, never reptile thief 

 Riot on thy virgin leaf ! 

 Nor ever Sol too fiercely view 

 Thy bosom blushing still with dew ! 

 May'st thou long, sweet crimson gem, 

 Richly deck thy native stem ; 

 Till some evening, sober, calm, 

 Drooping dews and breathing balm, 

 While all around the woodland rings, 

 And every bird thy requiem sings, 

 Thou, amid the dirgeful sound, 

 Shed thy dying honours round, 

 And resign to parent earth 

 The loveliest form she e'er gave birth. 



Btirns. 



