AMARANTH. 
'264 
TO THE WILD AMARANTH. 
ANON. 
The rose, that gave its perfume to the gale. 
And triumphed for an hour, in gay parade, 
Pride of Damascus, bright imperial flower. 
Was born to fade ! 
Shorn of its bloom, and rifled of its power, 
Scared by the blast, and scattered in the vale ! 
So youth shall wither, beauty pass away ! 
T he bloom of health, the flush of mantling pride! 
Nor wealth, norskill, nor eloquence, can save, 
From swift decay! 
Beauty and youth are dust, to dust allied, 
And time returns its tribute to the grave ! 
Pale, unobtrusive tenant of the field ! 
Thy fair, unsullied form shall still remain, 
’ Mid summer’s heat and autumn’s chill career, 
And winter’s reign; 
E’en the first honours of the floral year 
To thee alone shall gay Narcissus yield. 
Fair emblem art thou of the pious breast! 
Like thee, unfading flower, shall virtue bloom, 
When youth and all its bustling pride repose 
Deep in the tomb ! 
When beauty’s cheek shall wither, like the rose, 
And beauty’s sparkling eye shall be at rest. 
