Page images
PDF
EPUB

To match their fhining hues? or can the thread
Drawn by the Mechlin needle through the lawn,
Boaft an embroidery fo rich and fair

As grace the various tints which nature spreads
On each enamel'd bud? The chints, admir'd
For its gay gaudy colours, lofes all

Its beauty and its richness, and appears
Coarfe as the canvas, when its fading bloom
Dies and is loft, the bright carnation near.

Go boast, vain man, thy coftly rich attire,
Proud of thy fhining velvet and brocade;
Ambition this how low, how much beneath
The dignity of man, with thought inspir'd,
And gifts of wisdom, whom yon heavens ordain'd
Immortal--to abate and crush thy pride

View this embroider'd spot, and blush to view
Each pink and daisey glittering round thee, wear
A richer drefs, more exquifitely fair,

Than vanity in all her glory plum'd.

Deck then thyself in all the fplendid dies That shine upon the queen's refulgent robe In royal ftate, when she assumes her crown; Yet each difcerning eye that e'er furvey'd

The

The beauties of a garden, or beheld

The flow'ry populace that paint the field,
Comparing each with each, is forc'd to own,
The tulip's foliage and the rofe's bloom
Diffuse a radiant fplendor that outshines
The rich apparel of the eastern bride.
This lovely fituation, how it warms
The heart with gladnefs, drives away the gloom
Difpers'd and vanish'd, when our steps approach
These scented beds of flowers, whofe lively hues
And odours, both the raptur'd sense regale,
And touch the foul with a soft mingled joy.

How often have I felt the penfive thought

Quick loft and diffipated 'midst the glow

And fragrance of the flowers that breathe around;
With gaiety inspiring, and delight

The mind dejected with its bofom cares!

Shall then we gaze with wonder when we view
The king's imperial purple thrown afide,
His ftate forgot, and diadem unpriz'd,
To taste the verdant blifs which he enjoys
Walking 'twixt shining ivory and gold?
Who from the fumptuous table would refuse

In

In raptures to retire, and leave the feast
By luxury prepar'd, to feed on joys

More exquifite, and pleasures more refin'd?
Stand we amaz'd that queens fhould oft forego
The grandeur of a palace, and refuse
The tributes of obfequious bending knees,
Withdrawing from the glitt'ring pomp of state,
To view the gay parterre, where beauties smile
More radiant than the richeft courts unfold;
More fplendid equipage a bed of flowers
Than all the luftre beaming from a crown.
Not beauteous only, but the flow'ry tribes,
To please and to attract the eye, all bloom
With various tints, diftinguish'd each from each
By different hues----how kind the bounteous hand
Of that indulgent power! tho' perfect all
His works, who yet on all, the charms bestows
Of novelty to shew 'em ftill more fair.

A regular and uniform display

Of nature's gifts, prefented to the eye

In one unvaried luftre, foon would tire,

And court th' offended fight more charms to find

In other objects, different in their hues.

But

But heav'n, ftill fond the fenfe to entertain,
Exhibits, to regale the raptur'd eye,

Something for ever new, each species grac❜d

[ocr errors]

With its own native luftre, proud to wear
Its own peculiar beauties, nor affume
A radiance borrow'd from a rival flower.

A fingle glance from an observing eye
Discovers at one view the mode, and air,
And delicate distinction, that is seen
Peculiar to each clafs, while all appear
Drefs'd in a various beautiful attire.

Some rear their heads majestically high,

The garden's fovereigns, and, with proud difdain,
O'erlook the humble tribes that blush below;
Plebeian these that creep beneath the shade

Of the tall monarchs, who their births obfcure.
Others more modeftly their tops uprear,
The gentry of the garden, nor afpire

At greater honours than a place to gain
Seated between the low and the fublime;
While fome, who all ambitious views difclaim,
Contented with their humble ftation, creep
Upon their verdant borders; there we view

Some

These elegantly ftrip'd, thofe ftudded o'er
With radiant spots, while fome affect to fhew
Their bofom powder'd, or indented leaves,
All shining with a beauteous fringe of gold;
While in a modeft drefs, their aspect plain,
Some, in their native fimple beauties fair,
Seem to attract the eye, and chufe to please.
The monarchs purple, see that tribe affumes;
This, all in bridal virgin white array'd,
Chufes its milky bofom to unfold

Unftain'd with colours.----Here no fable flower
Of doleful black appears, nor gains a place
Amidst the beauteous daughters of the spring:
The weeds of mourning, how unfit to fhew
Their gloomy heads where all the scene is gay,
And universal nature fmiles around;

How pleas'd with soft ideas to inspire
Each bofom in her radiant robes array'd!

View yonder spot----behold a warrior ftands,
Clad in his martial crimson----turn your eye,
There the proud judge or magistrate is seen,
Rob'd in his purple; there a brilliant beau
Struts in full pride, his various radiant plumes

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »