176 Floral Poetry. 
THE LESSON OF A ROSE. 
A H ! see, whose fayre thing dost faine to see, 
. In springing flowre the image of the day ! 
Ah ! see the virgin Rose, how sweetly shee 
Doth first peepe forth with blushful modestee, 
That fairer seems the lesse ye see her May ! 
Lo ! see soone after how, more bold and free, 
Her bared bosome she doth broad display: 
1.0 ! see soon after how she fades and falls away ! 
So passeth, in the passing of a day 
Of mortal life, the leafe, the bud, the flowre ; 
No more doth flourish, after first decay, 
That earst was sought to deck both bed and bowre 
Of many a lady and many a paramoure ! 
Gather therefore the Rose whilest yet is prime, 
For soon comes age that will her pride deflowre ; 
Gather the Rose of love whilest yet is time, 
Whilest loveing thou mayest loved be with equall crime. 
Spenser. 
THE ROSE. 
Of all flowers, 
Methinks a Rose is best . . . 
It is the very emblem of a maid ; 
For when the west wind courts her gently, 
How modestly she blows, and paints the sun 
With her chaste blushes! When the north comes near her, 
Rude and impatient, then, like chastity, 
She locks her beauties in her bud again, 
And leaves him to base briers. 
Beaumont and Fletcher. 
