194 
Floral Poetry. 
THE LAY OF THE ROSE. 
‘' Discordance that can accord ; 
And accordance to discord.” 
The Romaunt of the Rose. 
“ See mine, a holy heart, 
To high ends set apart — 
All unmated, all unmated, 
Because so consecrated. 
A ROSE once passed within 
A garden, April-green, 
In her loneness, in her loneness, 
And the fairer for that oneness. 
A white Rose, delicate, 
On a tall bough and straight, 
Early comer, April comer, 
Never waiting for the Summer ; 
Whose pretty gestes did win 
South winds to let her in, 
In her loneness, in her loneness, 
All the fairer for that oneness. 
“ For if I wait,” said she, 
“ Till times for Roses be, 
For the Musk Rose, and the Moss Rose, 
Royal Red and Maiden Blush Rose, 
“ What glory then for me, 
In such a company ? 
Roses plenty, Roses plenty, 
And one nightingale for twenty ! 
“ Nay, let me in,” said she, 
“ Before the rest are free, 
In my loneness, in my loneness, 
All the fairer for that oneness. 
“ For I would lonely stand, 
Uplifting my white hand, 
On a mission, on a mission, 
To declare the coming vision. 
“ Upon which lifted sign, 
What worship will be mine ! 
What addressing, what caressing, 
What thanks, and praise, and blessing ! 
“ A wind-like joy will rush 
Through every tree and bush, 
Bending softly in affection. 
And spontaneous benediction. 
“ Insects, that only may 
Live in a sun-bright ray, 
To my whiteness, to my whiteness, 
Shall be drawn, as to a brightness. 
“ And every moth and bee 
Shall near me reverently, 
Wheeling round me, wheeling o’er me, 
Coronals ’ of motioned glory. 
“ I ween the very skies 
Will look down in surprise, 
When low on earth they see me, 
With my cloudy aspect dreamy. 
“ E’en nightingales shall flee 
Their woods for love of me, 
Singing sadly all the suntide, 
Never waiting for the moontide ! 
