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Of covert close, where scarce a speck of day
Falls on the lengthen'd gloom, protracted sweeps-
Now meets the bending sky; the river now
Dimpling along, the breezy ruffled lake,
The forest dark'ning round, the glitt'ring spire,
Th' ethereal mountain, and the distant main.
But why so far extensive? when, at hand,
Along these blushing borders, bright with dew,
And, in yon mingled wilderness of flow'rs,
Fair-handed Spring unbosoms ev'ry grace;
Throws out the snow-drop and the crocus first;
The daisy, primrose, violet darkly blue,
And polyanthus of unnumber'd dyes;

The yellow wall-flower, stained with iron brown;
And lavish stock, that scents the garden round :
From the soft wing of vernal breezes shed,
Anemones; auriculas, enrich'd

With shining meal o'er all their velvet leaves;
And full ranunculus, of glowing red.

Then comes the tulip-race, where beauty plays
Her idle freaks: from family diffused
To family, as flies the father-dust,

The varied colours run; and while they break
On the charm'd eye, th' exulting florist marks,
With secret pride, the wonders of his hand.
No gradual bloom is wanting; from the bud,
First boon of Spring, to Summer's musky tribes :
Nor hyacinths, of purest virgin white,
Low-bent, and blushing inward; nor jonquils
Of potent fragrance; nor narcissus fair,

As o'er the fabled fountain hanging still;

Nor broad carnations, nor gay-spotted pinks;
Nor, shower'd from ev'ry bush, the damask rose.
Infinite numbers, delicacies, smells,

With hues on hues expression cannot paint,
The breath of Nature, and her endless bloom.

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To thee, sweet Maid, I bring,
The beauteous progeny of Spring:
In every breathing bloom I find
Some pleasing emblem of thy mind.
The blushes of that op'ning rose,
Thy tender modesty disclose;
These snow-white lilies of the vale,
Diffusing fragrance to the gale,

No ostentatious tints assume,
Vain of their exquisite perfume;
Careless, and sweet, and mild, we see
In these a lovely type of thee.
On yonder gay enamell'd green,
That azure blossom smil'd serene;
Not changing with the changeful sky,
Its faithless tints inconstant fly;
For, unimpair'd by winds and rain,
I saw th' unalter'd hue remain :

So were thy mild affections prov'd,
Thy heart, by fortune's frown unmov'd,
Pleas'd to administer relief,

Would solace and alleviate grief.
These flowers with genuine beauty glow;
The tints from Nature's pencil flow.
What artist could improve their bloom,
Or 'meliorate their sweet perfume?
Fruitless the vain attempt! Like these,
Thy native truth,-thine artless ease,
Fair, unaffected maid, can never fail to please.

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THE CLOSE OF SPRING.

THE garlands fade that Spring so lately wove,

Each simple flower which she has nursed in dew, Anemones, that spangled every grove;

The Primrose wan, and Harebell mildly blue : No more shall Violets linger in the dell,

Or purple Orchis variegate the plain :

Till Spring again shall call forth every bell,

And dress with humid hands her wreaths again.

Oh poor humanity! so frail, so fair,

Are the fond visions of thy early day;

Till tyrant passion, and corrosive care,

Bid all thy fairy colours fade away!

Another May new buds and flowers shall bring:
Ah! why has happiness no second Spring?

CHARLES SMITH.

MAY.

BORN in yon blaze of orient sky,
Sweet May! thy radiant form unfold;
Unclose thy blue and tender eye,

And wave thy shadowy locks of gold.

For thee the fragrant zephyrs blow,
For thee descends the sunny shower;

The rills in softer murmur flow,

And brighter blossoms gem the bower.

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DARWIN.

THE SUMMER'S CALL.

COME away! the sunny hours

Woo thee far to founts and bowers!

O'er the very waters now,

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All the air is filled with sound,
Soft, and sultry, and profound;
Murmurs through the shadowy grass
Lightly stray;

Faint winds whisper, as they pass,
Come away!

Where the bee's deep music swells,
From the trembling fox-glove bells-
Come away!

In the deep heart of the rose,

Now the crimson love-hue glows; Now the glow-worm's lamp, by night,

Sheds a ray,

Dreary, starry, greenly bright,

Come away!

Where the fairy cup-moss lies,

With the wild wood-strawberries,

Come away!

MRS. HEMANS.

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