5G FLORAL CEREMONIES. 
Goddess ! on youth’s blest hours thy gifts bestow ; 
Bind the fair wreath on virgin Beauty’s brow, 
And still may Fancy’s brightest flowers be wove 
Round the gold chains of hymeneal love.” 
Charlotte Smith. 
It is thus that an English poetess apostrophi- 
zes the Goddess Flora, who according to clas- 
sical authority, was “ married to ZephyruS, 
and received from him the privilege of pre- 
siding over flowers and enjoying perpetual 
youth.” — She was represented by Ovid and 
others as crowned with flowers, and holding 
in her hand the horn of plenty ; perhaps we 
can find her portait among our collection of 
poetic beauties. Ah ! here it is ! — 
“ The vision comes ! — while slowly melt away 
Night’s hovering shades before the eastern ray, 
Ere yet declines the morning’s humid star, 
Fair Fancy brings her ; in her leafy car 
Flora descends to dress the expecting earth, 
Awake the germs, and call the buds to birth ; 
Bids each hybemacle its cell unfold, 
And open silken leaves and eyes of gold. 
Of forest foliage, of the firmest shade, 
Enwove by magic hands, the car was made ; 
Oak and the maple plane without entwined, 
And beech and ash the verdant concave lined ; 
