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52 FABLES OF FLORA. 
Through Delphi’s holy depth of shade, 
The sympathetic sorrows rati; 
While in his dim and mournful glade, 
The Genius of her groves began: 
‘ In vain Cephisus sighs to save 
The swain that loves his watery mead, 
And weeps to’see his reddening wave, 
And mourns for his perverted Reed. 
1 In vain my violated groves 
Must I with equal grief bewail; 
While desolation sternly roves, 
And bids the sanguine hand assail. . 
‘ God of the genial stream, behold 
My Laurel shades of leaves so bare 1 
Those leaves no poet’s brows enfold, 
Nor bind Apollo’s golden hair. 
‘ Like thy fair offspring, misapplied, 
Far other purpose they supply; 
The murderer’s burning cheek to hide, 
And on his frownful temples die. 
1 Yet deem not these of Pluto’s race, 
Whom wounded Nature sues in vain; 
Pluto disclaims the dire disgrace, 
And cries, indignant, “ They are men' ” ’ 
Dr. Lanqhobnk. 
