FLORA DOMESTICA. 



Who oft deceived the satyrs that pursued, 



The rural gods, and those whom woods include. 



In exercises, and in chaste desire, 



Diana-like ; and such in her attire. 



You either in each other might behold, 



Save that her bow was horn Diana's, gold : 



Yet oft mistook. Pan, crown'd with pines, returning 



From steep Lycaeus, saw her; and love-burning, 



Thus said : ' Fair virgin, grant a god's request, 



And be his wife.' Surcease to tell the rest ; 



How from his prayers she fled, as from her shame, 



Till to smooth Ladon's sandy banks she came : 



There stopp'd ; implored the liquid sister's aid 



To change her shape, and pity a forced maid. 



Pan, when he thought he had his Syrinx clasp'd 



Between his arms, reeds for her body grasp'd. 



He sighs : they, stirr'd therewith, report again 



A mournful sound, like one that did complain. 



Rapt with the music ' Yet, oh sweet !' said he, 



' Together ever thus converse will we.' 



Then of unequal wax-join'd reeds he framed 



This seven-fold pipe : of her 'twas Syrinx named." 



SANDYS' OVID, book 1. 



Lilac, or Lilag, is a Persian word, signifying a flower. 



Of the Common Lilac there are three varieties : the 

 Blue, the Violet, and the White. The second is gene- 

 rally known by the name of the Scotch Lilac : this has 

 the fullest flowers. 



" The Lilac," says Mr. Martyn, " is very commonly seen 

 in English gardens, where it has long been cultivated as 

 a flowering shrub. It is supposed to grow naturally in 

 some parts of Persia ; but it is so hardy as to resist the 

 greatest cold of this country. 



" The Scotch Lilac," continues he, " is the most beau- 

 tiful of the three ; and is probably so called because it 

 was first mentioned in the catalogue of the Edinburgh 

 garden." 



