THE POETRY OF FLOWERS. 13 
And fling it unrestrain’d and free, 
O’er hill, and dale, and desert sod, 
That man, where’er he walks, may see, 
At every step, the stamp of God ? 
--♦- 
FROM METASTASIO. 
The married are compared by the poet to the young 
Rose., which the lover places in the bosom of his 
mistress, first stripped of thorns. 
Thou virgin Rose ! whose opening leaves so fair, 
The dawn has nourish’d with her balmy dews 
While softest whispers of the morning air 
Call’d forth the blushes of thy vermeil hues; 
That cautious hand, which cropt thy youthful 
pride, 
Transplants thy honours, where from hurt 
secure, 
Stript of each thorn offensive to thy side, 
Thy nobler part alone shall bloom mature. 
Thus thou, a flower, exempt from change of skies, 
By storms and torrents unassail’d shall rise, 
And scorn the winter colds, and summer heats; 
A guard more faithful then thy growth shall tenc^ 
By whom thou mayst in tranquil union blend 
Eternal beauties with eteri al sweets. 
