If it be allowed to mix with sacred profane poetry, we would willingly add the admired 

 verses of an old English bard, taken from « his Book of Plants/' 



Such as the lovely Swan appears 



When rising from the Trent or Thame, 

 And as aloft his plumes he rears 



Darkens the less beauteous stream : 



So when this ]oyi\\\ Jlow'r is born, 



And does its native glories show ; 

 Her clouded rivals she does scorn ; 



They're all but foils where lilies grow. 



Soon as the infant comes to light 



With harmless milk alone 'tis fed ; 

 That from the innocence of white 



A gentle temper may be bred. 



The milky teat is first apply' d 



To fiercest creatures of the earth, 

 But she can boast a greater pride, 



A Goddess 9 milk produced her birth*. 



When Juno in the days of yore 



Did with the great Alcides teem, 

 Of milk the Goddess had such store, 



The nectar from her breast did stream, 



Whitening beyond the pow'r of art 



The pavement where it lay, 

 Yet through the crevices some part 



Made shift to find its way. 



The Earth forthwith did pregnant prove 



With lily flow'rs supply'd, 

 That scarce the milky way above 



With her in whiteness vy'd. 



Thus did the race of Man arise, 



When sparks of heav'nly fire 

 Breaking through crannies of the skies, 



Did Earth's dull mass inspire. 



Happy those souls that can with me 



Their native white retain; 

 Preserve their heav'nly purity, 



And wear no guilty stain. 



Peace in such habit comes array'd, 



This dress her Daughters wear ; 

 Hope and Joy in white are clad, 



In sable weeds Despair. 



Thus Beauty, Truth, and Chastity 



Attired we always find, 

 With inward Love these robes agree, 



With Virtue are conjoint. 



Nature on many Flow'rs beside 



Bestows a dusky white; 

 On this she plac'd her greatest pride 



And spread it o'er with Light. Cowley. 



* The overflowing Milk of Juno (like that of the Virgin on the Holy Thistle) is said; to have produced both the Galaxy, or Milky Way, 

 and the White Lily. 



