150 
THE LOVER’S OFFERING, 
And soon as the lark flitted out of her nest, 
The bridal assembly were ready and dressed. 
Amongst the most lovely, far lovelier shone 
The bride, with an elegance purely her own : 
Her tall slender figure green tissue arrayed, 
With diamonds strung loose on the shining brocade: 
A cap of white velvet, in graceful costume, 
Adorned her fair forehead—a silvery plume, 
Tipp’d with gold, from the centre half-negligent 
hung, 
With strings of white pearl scattered loosely 
among : 
The last (such as fairies are fancied to wear,) 
Aurora* herself had disposed in her hair. 
To meet her, and welcome the high omened day, 
The bridegroom stepp’d forth in majestic array— 
A rough velvet suit, mingled russet and green, 
Around his fine figure, broad flowing, was seen; 
His front, warm and manly, a diadem grac’d, 
Of regal appearance, resplendent as chaste : 
The centre was puckered in velvet of brown, 
With golden Vandykes, which encircled the crown. 
Since Nature’s first morning, ne’er glittered a pair, 
The one so commanding, the other so fair ! 
Many ladies of fashion had offered to wait 
As bridemaids, the honour was reckoned so great; 
These famed for their beauty, for fragrancy those, 
Anemone splendid, or sweet-smelling Rose; 
* Aurora —the goddess of the morning—the dawn. 
