Floral Poetry. 
104 
THE FAIREST FLOWER. 
Cfje Hay of tfjt ffiaptibe ffiarl. 
THE EARL. 
Y KNOW a floweret passing fair, 
A And for its loss I pain me ; 
Fain would I hence to seek its lair, 
But for these bonds that chain me. 
Ah, heavy, heavy is my cheer, 
For till I came a prisoner here, 
That flower was ever near me. 
All round the castle’s beetling steep, 
I let my glances wander; 
But cannot from the dizzy keep 
Descry it, there or yonder. 
Oh, he who’d bring it to my sight, 
Or were he knave, or were he knight, 
Should be my friend for ever! 
THE ROSE. 
I blossom bright thy lattice near, 
And hear what thou hast spoken; 
’Tis me—brave ill-starred cavalier — 
The Rose, thou would’st betoken ! 
Thy spirit spurns the base, the low, 
And ’tis the queen of flowers, I know, 
That in thy bosom reigneth. 
THE EARL. 
All honour to thy purple cheer, 
From swathes of verdure blowing; 
Well may’st thou be to maidens dear, 
As gold or jewels glowing. 
