Page:The Romance of Nature; or, The Flower-Seasons Illustrated.djvu/345

215 See, like a Ladye in a festal garb,

How gaily decked she waits the Christinas time!

Her robe of living emerald, that waves

And, shining, rustles in the frost-bright air,

Is garlanded with bunches of small flowers,—

Small bell-shaped flowers, each of an orient pearl

Most delicately modelled, and just tinged

With faintest yellow, as if, lit within,

There hung a fairy torch in each lamp-flower.

Some have a pinky hue, soft as a shell

Painted by Amphitrite's hands; for they, less white

Than Lilies when they ope, blush e'en to know

That Summer hath a flower more pure than they.

Nor are her pearls the only wealth displayed

By this fair Winter Queen; for, all around,

Among those bead-like wreaths do gleam and glow

Jewels of many hues; globes of rich gold

Hanging beside the pale green chrysophrase;

And those contrasted by the ruby's light,

Or coral, snatched from out some sea-maid's cell;

Against which amber soft and palely shines,

Fast deep'ning to the hue the topaz wears.

And these, with ceaseless changefulness of shade,

Broider that Ladye's pearl-enwreathed robe

Of vernal emerald,—When chilling storms

Howl dismally around, and Winter shakes,

Wide spreading to the blast, his hoary locks,

Till they array the frozen earth in snow;