38 POETRY OF FLOWERS. 
Yet, born to bloom and fade, 
Thee, too, a lovelier robe arrays 
‘Than e’er in Israel’s brightest days 
Her wealthiest king array’d. 
Of thy twin leaves th’ embower’d screen 
Which wraps thee in thy shroud of green 3 
Thy Eden-breathing smell ; 
Thy arch’d and purple-vested stem, 
Whence pendant many a pearly gem, 
Displays a milk-white bell; 
Instinct with life thy fibrous root, 
Which sends from earth the ascending shoot, 
As rising from the dead, 
And fills thy veins with verdant juice, 
Charg’d thy fair blossoms to produce, 
And berries scarlet red. 
The triple cell, the two-fold seed, 
A ceaseless treasure-house decreed, 
Whence aye thy race may grow, 
As from creation they have grown, 
While spring shall weave her flowery crown, 
Or vernal breezes blow :— 
Who forms thee thus with unseen hand ; 
Who at creation gave command, 
And will’d thee thus to be, 

