288 Bell Flowers. 



No heedless hand shall harm thee there ; 



Still, then, avoid the gaudy scene, 



The flaunting sun, the embroidered green, 



Aud bloom and fade with chaste reserve, unseen. 



THE HAREBELL AND FOX-GLOVE 



In a valley obscure, on a bank of green shade, 

 A sweet little Harebell her dwelling had made 

 Her roof was a Woodbine, that tastefully spread 

 Its close woven tendrils, o'erarching her head: 

 Her bed was of moss, that each morning made new ; 

 She dined on a sunbeam, and supp'd on the dew : 

 Her neighbor, the nightingale, sung her to rest, 

 And care had ne'er planted a thorn in her breast. 



One morning she saw, on the opposite side, 



A Fox-Glove, displaying his colors of pride: 



She gazed on his form, that in stateliness grew, 



And envied his height, and his brilliant hue ; 



She marked how the flow'rets all gave way before him, 



While they press'd round her dwelling with far less decorum : 



Dissatisfied, jealous, and peevish she grows, 



And the sight of this Fox-Glove destroys her repose. 



She tires of her vesture, and swelling with spleen, 

 Cries, " Ne'er such a dowdy blue mantle was seen !" 

 Nor keeps to herself any longer her pain, 

 But thus to a Primrose begins to complain : 

 " I envy your mood, that can patient abide, 

 " The respect paid that Fox-Glove, his airs and his pride ; 

 ' There you sit, still the same, with your colourless cheek ; 

 " But you have no spirit — woidd I were as meek." 



The Primrose, good humoured, replied, " If you knew 

 " More about him — (remember, I'm older than you, 

 " And. better instructed, can tell you his tale) 

 ' You'd envy him least of all flowers in the vale : 

 *' With all his fine airs and his dazzling show, 

 " No blossom more baneful and odious can blow ; 

 " And the reason that flow'rets before him give way 

 " Is because they all hate him, and shrink from his sway : 



" To stay near him long would be fading ot death, 

 " For he scatters a pest with his venomous breath ; 

 "While the flowers that you fancy are crowding you there 

 " Spring round you, delighted your converse to share : 



