ORACLE. 
209 
monsters spout out water to cool the air, while 
flattery as abundantly sends forth her streams 
to refresh the vain. In one spot we see the 
proud officer flaunting round the brazen image 
of Venus, whilst the opposite angle shows the 
sentimental dame reclining on the pedestal of 
Mars, or Jupiter. Agricola, a German au¬ 
thor, says this scene gave him a foretaste of 
Paradise.” 
ORACLE. 
DANDELION. 
Linn^us has given the dandelion a de¬ 
served place in the horologe of Flora. It is 
one of the plants that may he most certainly 
depended upon as to the hour of opening and 
closing its flowers. The flower, if we well 
examine it, we shall discover to be fully as 
handsome as the fine garden anemone; and it 
only needs to be as rare, to be prized as much. 
This plant bloss6ms early in the spring, and 
continues through the summer. 
Thine full many a pleasing bloom 
Of blossoms lost to all perfume ; 
Thine the dandelion flowers, 
Gilt with dew like sun with showers. 
