FLORAL CEREMONIES. 115 
It is thus that an English poetess apostrophizes 
the Goddess Flora, who, according to classical 
authority, was “ married to Zephyrus, and re¬ 
ceived from him the privilege of presiding over 
flowers and enjoying perpetual youth.” She 
was represented by Ovid and others as crowned 
with flowers, and holding in her hand the horn 
of plenty ; perhaps we can find her portrait 
among our collection of poetic beauties. Ah ! 
here it is !— 
“ The vision comes!—while slowly melt away 
Night’s hovering shades before the eastern ray, 
Ere yet declines the morning’s humid star, 
Fair Fancy brings her; in her leafy ear 
Flora descends to dress the expecting earth, 
Awake the germs, and call the buds to birth j 
Bids each hybernacle its cell unfold. 
And open silken leaves and eyes of gold. 
Of forest foliage, of the firmest shade, 
Enwove by magic hands, the car was made : 
Oak and the maple plane without entwined, 
And beech and ash the verdant concave lined 
The saxifrage, that snowy flowers emboss. 
Supplied the seat; and of the mural moss 
The velvet footstool rose, where lightly rest 
[Her slender feet in cyprepedium dressed. 
