236 THE lover’s offering, 
Seeing how far one’s stocks will reach; 
Taking due care one’s flowers of speech 
To guard from blight as well as bathos, 
And watering, every day, one’s pathos. 
A letter comes just gathered, we 
Boat on its tender brilliancy; 
Inhale its delicate expression 
Of balm and pea; and its confession, 
Made with as sweet a maiden blush 
As ever morn bedew’d in bush; 
And then, when we have kissed its wit, 
And heart, in water putting it, 
To keep its remarks fresh, go round, 
And with delighted hands compose 
Our answer, all of lily and rose, 
Of tuberose and of violet, 
And little darling (mignonette) ; 
And gratitude and polyanthus, 
And flowers that say, “ Felt never man thus!” 
Leigh Hunt. 
THE VIOLET. 
A violet by a mossy stone 
Half hidden from the eye, 
Fair as a star when only one 
Is shining in the sky. 
Violets of every shade and hue, 
Symbol my heart sincere and true. Gu. 
