Page:Beachy Head and Other Poems.pdf/96

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Round the sustaining stems weak tendrils bind, And save the pollen from dispersing wind; From suns too ardent, shade their transient hues, And catch in odorous cups translucent dews. The ruder tasks of others are, to chase From vegetable life the insect race, Break the polluting thread the spider weaves, And brush the aphis from th' unfolding leaves.

For conquest arm'd these pigmy warriors wield The thorny lance, and spread the hollow shield Of lichen tough; or bear, as silver bright, Lunaria's pearly circlet, firm and light. On the helm'd head the crimson foxglove glows, Or Scutellaria guards the martial brows,