Chapter XXII

_Life’s humble vale is most secure;_
_Cares on th’ exalted wait:_
_Yet those who well the weak protect_
_Deserve_ UNENVY’D STATE.

FABLE VI.

The WHITE ROSE and the RED.

I.

Contending beauties, whom the doom
Of Fate has still assign’d
Two fragrant rival flow’rs to blow,
And scent the western wind;

II.

The WHITE ROSE and the BLUSHING RED,
Each one the garden’s pride,
With equal grace their leaves display’d,
And flourish’d side by side.

III.

The _first_ of spotless beauty vain
That sudden caught the eye,
The _last_ attentive praise to gain
From her more sanguine dye.

IV.

Of sov’reign virtue both well known,
Both favour’d from above:
Still full of glory rose each flow’r,
Emblems of gentle Love.

V.

Yet ’twixt their stocks wild feuds subsist,
To work them lasting woe;
Whilst each of other still complain’d,
And strove her overthrow.

VI.

“Shame, said the RED, on that pale hue,
“Which speaks the wearer’s heart;
“That, void of virtue as of grace,
“No colour can impart.

VII.

“Unlike the blushes that adorn
“My flow’r with colour meet,
“AURORA’S, when she wakes the day,
“Appear not half so sweet.”

VIII.

“Nay! Shame on thee, the White reply’d,
“Whose blush by _guilt_ was giv’n:
“Ev’n by the blood of VENUS shed,
“Our patroness in Heav’n[11].

IX.

“Till then like me all Roses were,
“Whose ancient stock I claim;
“And, void of crime, still reprobate
“Their colour with their name.”

X.

“This and much more she angry said:
“But JOVE’S immortal flow’r[12]
“Their ill-meant conversation broke,
“With soft, persuasive pow’r.

[11] According to the old Fable, the Rose was at first always white, till Venus, while she was pursuing Adonis, scratched herself with its thorns, and thereby stained it with her cœlestial blood.

[12] The Amaranth.

XI.

“Forbear, she cry’d, in haughty guise,
“Reproachful to contend:
“Whoe’er the victrix, small her gain,
“That thus can lose a friend.

XII.

“Ally’d by Nature in your kind,
“And diff’ring but in Hue:
“You both possess intrinsic worth,
“And outward beauty too.

XIII.

“Long was the strife your[13] ancient state,
“In this our isle pursu’d;
“Which many a year drench’d either Rose,
“In seas of kindred blood.

XIV.

“Oh! may no more such horrors rise,
“Within our Garden’s pale:
“But all with emulation strive,
“That concord may prevail!

[13] Alluding to the Civil Wars of York and Lancaster, in which the White Rose and the Red were adopted as tokens or devices by their different partisans.

XV.

“May civil feuds and ranc’rous hate
“From hence be banish’d far;
“Foul is that strife, where friends contest,
“And wage inhuman war.

XVI.

“Then to this solemn truth give ear;
“_Where trifles thus are priz’d,_
“_If two for victory contend;_
“_They both will be despis’d_.”

FABLE VII.

The CROCUS.

I.

“Say, beauteous flow’r, whose burnish’d leaves
“With Spring’s own livery glow:
“In these bleak months, why dost thou chuse
“T’ adorn a waste of snow?

II.

“Say, dost thou grudge to summer-skies,
“That bloom divinely bright:
“Or, are thy beauties clearer seen,
“Through this thin Robe of White?

III.

“The Snow-drop, thy companion fair,
“As well thy foil might prove,
“And both might bloom in seasons sweet,
“And far from hence remove.

IV.

“To Summer’s gayer months benign;
“Should’st thou transfer thy reign,
“Thy beauties still would brighter glow,
“And doubly grace the plain.—”

V.

I said:—the lovely smiling flow’r,
The beauty of its race;
And friendly to the sons of men,
Reply’d with decent grace:

VI.

“Nature’s great book before thee set:
“She blames thee not to scan
“Her works on every side display’d,
“The fit employ of man.

VII.

“When Spring and Summer glad the earth,
“Ten thousand beauties bloom;
“And various flow’rs of brightest hue,
“Diffuse a rich perfume.

VIII.

“Autumn of fruits her tribute brings,
“With, yellow harvests crown’d;
“Then laugh the hills and vales, and meads
“With richest plenty crown’d.

IX.

“Winter, at length, with gloomy brow,
“Comes on to close the year;
“When flow’rs and fruits, and all their race,
“Almost extinct appear.

X.

“Yet still some few the gracious Pow’rs
“Permit of these to bloom:
“Nor heap alike all FLORA’S race,
“In one remorseless tomb.

XI.

“And soon as to the wat’ry Signs,
“The Sun retreats again;
“Then she my flamy dyes awakes,
“And bids me deck the plain.

XII.

“Nor less my worth because ’midst snows,
“My head I early rear;
“My flow’r still fresh and lively blooms,
“As at the closing year.

XIII.

“And know, when Autumn’s Sun prevails,
“My kindred flow’rs arise;
“In forms which heav’nly pow’rs might praise,
“And scent the ambient skies[14].

XIV.

“These ev’ry dismal gloom dispel;
“Which mis’ry can impart,
“And joy and gladness still inspire,
“And harmonize the heart.

XV.

“Meanwhile my earlier station here,
“(Health’s harbinger) I keep,
“To glad the sad and cloudy days;
“When Spring’s soft Zephyrs sleep.

[14] It is here to be noted that the autumnal Crocus is the Saffron Flower, so famous in Medicine.

XVI.

“So, in the Winter of his days,
“Chear thou thy drooping friend;
“His sorrows sooth, his griefs assuage,
“And prompt assistance lend.

XVII.

“So, when his fate and fortune lour,
“Thy better aid impart;
“And with thy fortune’s warmer ray,
“Revive his dying heart.

XVIII.

She said;—the moral well became
The sweet, propitious flow’r;
I mark’d the lore with heedful mind,
And own’d fair FRIENDSHIP’S pow’r.

FABLE VIII.

The ANEMONE and the PASSION FLOWER.

I.

“Bright flow’r renown’d in ancient times,
“Amidst the Cyprian shades;
“The theme of wonder and of praise
“To soft Sidonian maids.

II.

“Hail! Goddess-born! hail! thou produc’d
“From the bright mingled flood
“Of VENUS’ tears, as bards have sung,
“And her ADONIS’ blood.

III.

“Rich are thy blossoms in each hue
“That can inchant the fight;
“And strike at once the ravish’d eye
“With wonder and delight.

IV.

“Hail! sacred Plant, born but to shew
“ADONIS’ yearly wound;
“By gentle VENUS taught to bloom,
“With heav’nly beauties crown’d.”

V.

I said; when lo; an awful form
Upon my orgies broke;
And, like some bright cœlestial pow’r,
In lofty accents spoke:

VI.

“Hence, thou profane; nor wound me thus
“With thy unhallow’d song;
“But turn, and see, who blossoms here,
“To whom thy strains belong.

VII.

“The Tyrian Boy, and VENUS’ self;
“Before my face shall fly;
“Their beauty gone, their lustre lost,
“And all their charms shall die.

VIII.

“I am the only flow’r on earth,
“With signs divine adorn’d;
“By me, of Heav’n thus favour’d high,
“All Pagan Gods are scorn’d.

IX.

“The purple ring, the bloody crown,
“The nails, and guilty spear,
“That slew the Lord of Life, behold
“In my symbolic sphere.

X.

“Deep to Lethéan shades my root
“Still downward seems to tend;
“As from the Cross’s sacred base,
“To Hell it would descend.

XI.

“Then here thy mis-plac’d rev’rence shew,
“And bow before this shrine;
“Where Angel Hosts themselves might pray,
“And own the Plant divine.”

XII.

She said; ADONIS’ flow’ret bow’d,
As to superior pow’r;
My conscious heart was struck with dread;
Before the wond’rous flow’r.

XIII.

But whilst intent my rev’rence there
With honour due to pay;
The heav’ns withdrew their useful light,
And clos’d the hours of day.

XIV.

I look’d;—no more those signs I saw,
Which had my rev’rence drawn:
For ever shut the mirrour stood[15],
Which thus had grac’d the lawn.

XV.

A while I gaz’d; at length I cry’d,
And art THOU mortal too?
Are all THY sacred beauties fled,
Or faded on the view?

[15] This flower opens in the morning, and fades away in the evening, closing up, and never opening again.

XVI.

_Vain then is all external awe,_
_That images impart;_
_And_ HE _that rules above is best_
_Recorded in the_ HEART.

FABLE IX.

The LILY and NARCISSUS.

I.

“Ah! hapless discontented flow’r,
“That yellow leaves adorn;
“Who once in life’s gay vernal pride
“The brightest nymphs could’st scorn.

II.

“Hard was thy lot, and short thy date,
“By form too fair undone;
“Thou met’st, alas! a timeless doom,
“Ere half thy course was run.

III.

“Unhappy, self-admiring youth,
“A lesson thou shalt prove;
“T’ avoid vain pride, that idle toy,
“And shun prepost’rous love.

IV.

“Fair when a boy, now chang’d, no more
“Those beauties can’st thou boast;
“But ever sadly may’st repent
“In vain those beauties lost.

V.

“View yonder Lily’s snowy pride,
“Sprung from a seed divine;
“Then own how much her beauty bright,
“Fond flow’r, out-rivals thine!”

VI.

With modest grace the Lily bow’d
The honours of her head;
Then, with a sweet and modest grace,
She thus instructive said:

VII.

“Well may they droop, to whom their fate,
“With form divinely fair,
“No other, better boon has giv’n
“To make that beauty dear.

VIII.

“For not this glossy white I bear,
“Delight of human eyes;
“Nor this so graceful form admir’d,
“Are what I wish to prize.

IX.

“From heav’nly strain[16] I first arose,
“Emblem of chaste desires;
“And still that chastity retain,
“And check unhallow’d fires.

X.

“No empty self-admirer, I
“Would Folly’s trophies raise;
“Such _virtue_ then let all applaud,
“Not empty _beauty_ praise.”

[16] According to the Old Fable, Jupiter being willing to make Hercules immortal, caused him to suck Juno while she was asleep; when the milk gushing out into a great quantity, some of it being spilt upon the sky, made the galaxy or milky way there, while the rest falling to the earth, gave birth to the White Lily.

XI.

She said; and strait the moral found
Deep entrance in my breast;
BEAUTY, _if not with_ VIRTUE _join’d,_
_Is but an idle jest_.

FABLE X.

The IVY and SWEET BRIAR.

I.

“Hail, sacred IVY! hail,” I said,
“Devote to BACCHUS’ shrine;
“Parent of wreaths, which deck the brows
“Of Gods and men divine.

II.

“Why call thee baleful, why despise
“Thy ancient friendly race;
“Who clasp the Elm and sturdy Oak
“In mystical embrace.

III.

“MINERVA’S bird too deigns to dwell
“Where thou art frequent seen;
“Who loves the calm and peaceful hour,
“And courts the deep serene.

IV.

“Thou, like the Vine, thy patron’s joy,
“Thy nurture wilt receive,
“And, twining close with friendly arms,
“Wilt still supported live.

V.

“With PHŒBUS’ laurel justly thou
“May’st hold divided claim;
“The crown of glorious conquerors,
“And meed of deathless fame.”

VI.

Thus whilst I spoke, the West wind rose,
And scatter’d rich perfume,
From thickets, where sweet Eglantine
Appear’d in vernal bloom.

VII.

Thence a soft voice salutes my ear,
Which thus complaining said;
“Fond youth, to yonder noxious weed
“Why all these honours paid?

VIII.

“The Vine, ’tis true, will wed her Elm;
“But view the dow’r she brings!
“From yonder steril, forc’d embrace
“Alas! what profit springs?

IX.

“Like a false friend, too sure, she twines,
“Intent but to destroy;
“As Jealousy, Love’s offspring, still
“Impoisons all Love’s joy.

X.

“How poor that _virtue_, which retires
“To solitude for aid!
“_How weak that wisdom_, which can shine
“Alone in night’s dun shade!

XI.

“And what, though gods and godlike men
“Their victor brows have bound
“With ivy’d wreaths; is then the weed
“For that alone renown’d?

XII.

“Say rather, in that purer age,
“When spotless honour reign’d;
“The victor, seeking only fame,
“A worthless crown obtain’d.

XIII.

“Hence Ivy, Parsley, Oaken Boughs,
“Their labour well repaid,
“Who not for gain, but glory’s charms,
“Their gen’rous strength display’d.

XIV.

“But thou, regardful of fair truth,
“And glory justly gain’d;
“Scorn the frail claim of upstarts base,
“By such false means obtain’d.

XV.

“_Not borrow’d names from high descent,_
“_Are real honour’s meed;_
“_But they alone are_ GREAT, _whose fame_
“_Springs from_ THEIR OWN _fair deed_.”

FABLE XI.

The VIOLET TRANSPLANTED.

I.

Where fragrant field-flow’rs, gaily spread,
Drink deep the morning dew;
Close by a murm’ring riv’let’s side
An humble Vi’let grew.

II.

To her the cultur’d spot unknown,
She bloom’d in her retreat;
And there in native fragrance bless’d,
Dispers’d a world of sweet.

III.

But yet not undisturb’d her lot
By Providence was cast;
For oft’ the herds went grazing forth
And laid the meadow waste.

IV.

And oft’ the trav’ler’s careless step
Had laid her on the plain;
Yet, by the living streamlet fed,
She soon reviv’d again.

V.

At length a curious Florist saw
The sweetly blooming flow’r;
Call’d her the field’s and garden’s pride,
And plac’d her in his bow’r.

VI.

Here, with a thousand beauties rang’d,
Her elegance was lost;
No more the cultur’d spot she grac’d;
No more fair FLORA’S boast.

VII.

Abandon’d by his hand, who first
Her charms with pleasure view’d;
She in her rise beheld her fate,
And now neglected stood.

VIII.

She droop’d, she pin’d; the richer soil
No nurture could afford;
And oft’ in vain her humbler lot
The fading flow’r deplor’d.

IX.

The happier tribes that flourish’d round
Did each her state deride;
Rejoicing that she paid so dear
For what they deem’d her pride.

X.

The Sun in Cancer flam’d aloft
Dry thirst her moisture drank;
In vain she wish’d the lucent flood,
Or shade of osiers dank.

XI.

Oppress’d at length she drooping fell,
As ready to expire;
Her bosom unresisting spread
To Sol’s consuming fire.

XII.

When lo! from heav’n a gentle rain
Cool’d that too fervid ray;
And soon reviv’d the beauteous flow’r,
Which glow’d upon the day.

XIII.

Her bloom restor’d, renew’d again;
Her former lord attends;
And midst the fairest of the fair
She numbers now her friends.

XIV.

Yet, deeply struck with former ills,
An humble flow’r she blooms;
No pride that lovely bosom knows,
Whence ZEPHYR steals perfumes;

XV.

And to the Fair this useful truth
She evermore reveals;
_That she best knows her Beauty’s force,_
_Who modestly conceals_.

FABLE XII.

The TULIP and the AMARANTH.

I.

Where various beauties mingled rise,
All grateful to the view;
With variegated beauties bright,
A gaudy TULIP grew.

II.

Its leaves with flamy splendour shine,
Mix’d with more vivid green;
And all the tints that deck heav’n’s bow
Upon the flow’r are seen.

III.

The gently passing vernal air
The beauteous plant caress’d;
And ZEPHYR ever pleas’d reclin’d
Upon the charmer’s breast.

IV.

While near at hand the GENTLE FLOW’R,
Call’d AMARANTH, below
The blooming guest of JOVE’S own seats,
Deign’d in her prime to grow.

V.

Yet she with hairs uncouthly deck’d,
Unlike the Tulip race,
Is not among the flowr’ets found,
Whose colours mark their grace.

VI.

This swell’d her rival’s empty pride,
And, vain of empty shew;
The Amaranth askance she ey’d,
And thus contemptuous spoke;

VII.

“Of all the flow’rs that deck the lawn,
“The progeny of Spring;
“And all that of maturer birth
“The later seasons bring:

VIII.

“Of all that for their fairer forms
“May raise the justest claim;
“Of all that men for beauty prize,
“Or from perfection name:

IX.

“Behold me, first and fairest known,
“Still lov’d and valu’d most;
“Soft daughter of the vernal hour,
“The cultur’d garden’s boast.

X.

“Why deign I then so long with _these_
“To dwell without reserve;
“That scarce, though vulgar eyes they charm,
“The name of FLOW’R deserve?”

XI.

The blooming Amaranth, unmov’d,
Repress’d her forward pride;
The boaster’s arrogance despis’d,
And wisely thus reply’d;

XII.

“Yes, gaudy thing; thy various hues
“Are fine indeed and gay;
“Glaring thou glitter’st on the sight,
“And flaunt’st it to the day!

XIII.

“No flow’r around more bright can blow,
“In beauty more mature!
“But tell me, false, frail, giddy thing,
“How long shall that endure?

XIV.

“Me, not the least of FLORA’S tribe,
“Me thou hast laugh’d to scorn,
“And deem’d my claim to beauty vain,
“Although cœlestial born.

XV.

“For know, though scarce allow’d by thee
“To rank among the flow’rs;
“From Heav’n I draw my high descent,
“And bloom’d in Eden’s bow’rs.

XVI.

“And still eternal is my race,
“No frail decay I know;
“But, emblem of the first great Spring,
“For ever bloom below.

XVII.

“But thou! the pageant of an hour,
“Too quickly shalt deplore
“Those beauties with’ring all away,
“Which fade, to charm no more.

XVIII.

“_Thou_, wretch! no second Spring shalt see,
“To renovate thy bloom;
“Whilst _I_ survive the stroke of fate,
“And triumph o’er the tomb.

XIX.

“Cease then thy boast! in Wisdom’s lore
“Go learn thyself to know;
“And by _her_ never-failing rule
“Judge all things here below.