











206 THE POETRY OF PLOWERS, 
Below a circling fence, its leaves are seen 
Wrinkled and keen; 
No grazing cattle through their prickly round 
Can reach to wound, 
But as they grow where nothineis to fear, 
Smooth and unarm’d the pointless leaves appear 
—_$—- 
NARCISSUS. 
BY GRAY. 
Here young Narcissus o’er the fountain stood, 
And viewed his image in the crystal flood ; 
The crystal flood reflects his lovely Ses 
And the pleased image strives to meet his arms. 
No nymph his inexperienced breast subdued, 
Echo in vain the flying boy pursued. 
Himself alone the foolis sh youth admires, 
And with fond look the smiling shade desires, 
O’er the smooth lake with fruitless tears he 
erieves; 
His spreading fingers shoot in verdant leaves: 
Through his pale veins green sap now gently flows 
And in a short-lived flower his beauty blows 
Let vain Narcissus warn each female breast 
That beauty’s but a transient good at best; 
Like flowers, it withers with th’ a a year, 
And age, like winter, robs the blooming fair. 


















