Page:The Romance of Nature; or, The Flower-Seasons Illustrated.djvu/168

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vainly seek ye, 'mid the gardens store,

For one Flower so pre-eminently fair

O'er all the rest, that right of sovereignty

Must seem her heritage. The is bright,

And wondrous fragrant; yet the sheds

From her long bloomy streamers, breath as sweet:

And on them both the might turn

Her soft blue eye in gentlest reproach,

That perfume such as her's should be o'erpast.

E'en the white maiden, in her pride,

Would take the hue of jealousy, and turn

To envious yellow her complexion pure,

Were she deemed than the rest less fit to reign.

Seek not the Floral Queen among them all:—

But, leaving far behind the garden trim,

And shining palaces, where dwell the bright

Sun-worshippers of many a fervid clime,

Go to the lake's o'ershadowed margent, where,

Over the waves like fairy-carpets spread

For summer revelrie, lie leaves afloat,