298 Hollyhock. 



With solemn shout and trumpet's clang, 

 Each morn this truth severe, 



"Remember thou art mortal," rang 

 In royal Philip's ear. 



And why ? To ripen into deed 



Each high and lofty aim, 

 And urge him on to win the meed, 



The meed of deathless fame. 



This record of the olden days 



May useful hints supply; 

 But say, what herald shall upraise 



For me the warning cry 1 



For I have deadlier foes to quell 

 Than bow'd beneath Philip's spear, 



And realms he wot not of to win, 

 Imperishably fair. 



A blade of grass — a simple flower, 



Cull'd from the dewy lea ; 

 These, these shall speak with touching power 



Of " change and death" to me. 



For if "stars teach as well as shine," # 

 Not less these gems of earth, 



In budding bloom and pale decline, 

 May pour instruction forth. 



Come, then, and ever when I stray, 



Breathe still the solemn cry, 

 ' Man and his glory, what are they, 

 Fragile as grass or flow'ret gay, 

 Which blossoms but to die.' 



Hollyhock. 



The Althea Rosea — Hollyhock ; is in the class Mona- 

 delphia, order Polyandria. The generic name is derived from 

 the Greek, to cure, because it was supposed to be highly effi- 

 cacious in medicine. Its characters are :— calyx, double, outer 



