LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
THE GAEL A HE. 
The pride of every grove I chose, 
The violet sweet and lily fair, 
The dappled pink and blushing rose, 
To deck my charming Cloe’s hair. 
At morn the nymph vouchaf’d to place 
Upon her brow the various wreath ; 
The flowers less blooming than her face, 
The scent less fragrant than her breath. 
The flowers she wore along the day; 
And every nymph and shepherd said, 
That in her hair they look’d more gay 
Than glowing in their native bed. 
Undrest, at ev’ning, when she found 
Their odours lost, their colours past; 
She chang’d her look, and on the ground 
Her garland and her eye she cast. 
That eye dropt sense distinct and clear, 
As any muse’s tongue could speak, 
When from its lid a pearly tear 
Ran trickling down her beauteous cheek. 
Dissembling what I knew too well; 
My love ! my life ! said I, explain 
This change of humour ; pray thee tell: 
That falling tear.—What does it mean? 
She sigh’d, she smil’d ; and to the flowers 
Pointing, the lovely moralist said : 
See ! friend, in some few fleeting hours, 
See yonder, what a change is made ! 
Ah me ! the blooming pride of May, 
And that of beauty are but one : 
At morn both flourish bright and gay, 
Both fade at ev’ning, pale, and gone ! 
At dawn poor Stella danc’d and sung ; 
The am’rous youth around her bow’d : 
At night her fatal knell was rung ! 
I saw and kiss’d her in her shroud ; 
Such as she is, W'ho dy’d to-day, 
Such I, alas 1 may be to-morrow : 
Go, Damon, bid thy muse display 
The justice of thy Cloe’s sorrow. 
Prior. 
TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE 
MUCH OF TIME. 
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may : 
Old Time is still a-flying; 
And this same flower that smiles to-day, 
To-morrow will be dying. 
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, 
The higher he’s a-getting, 
The sooner will his race be run, 
And nearer he’s to setting. 
That age is best, which is the first, 
When youth and blood are warmer ; 
But being spent, the worse and worst 
Times will succeed the former. 
—Then be not coy, but use your time, 
And while ye may, go marry; 
For having lost but once your prime, 
You may for ever tarry. 
P.obert Herrick. 
77 
