6 
Look on these flowers! As o’er an altar shedding, 
O’er Milton’s page, soft light from coloured 
urns! 
They are the links, man’s heart to nature wed¬ 
ding, 
When to her breast the prodigal returns. 
They are from lone wild places, forest-dingles, 
Fresh bank of many a low-voiced hidden 
stream, 
Where the sweet star of eve looks down, and 
mingles 
Faint lustre with the water-lily’s gleam. 
They are from where the soft winds play in glad¬ 
ness, 
Covering the turf with pearly blossom-showers; 
Too richly dowered, Oh! friend, are we for 
sadness,— 
Look on an empire—mind and nature—ours!” 
Mrs. Hemans. 
