The prayer was heard; and soon, by Fancy's aid,
A nook was chosen, and a Cot was made:

Streams, groves, and gardens deck'd the smiling bound→→→→ A Paradise of sweets-on Fairy ground.

But Friendship came, with Fortune at his side (a),
To realize the Song and Poet's pride,

A bow'ry nook was given, midst Nature's scenes
Of purest blossoms and unsullied greens.

Small tho' the spot, it prov'd her happiest power;
She saw 'twas good-she lov'd, and bless'd each flower.

Yet who that loves from Jealousy is free?
FLORA now felt it-tho' a Goddess she.

All "out of door" she eyed with fond delight;
For all her fragrant children were in sight :-
Her Pink, her Rose, her Hyacinth were there,
Shedding delicious odours through the air.

Touch'd by the sweet Enchantment of the scene,
She deign'd a visit to the charms within.
The Cot she enter'd; there beheld her flowers,
Tho' cropt, still breathing all her balmy powers:
Lovely midst thorns her Brier, and Crocus
gay,
And many a Woodbine charming in decay.

Yet as around she cast her raptur'd eye,
Bright'ning the walls, she saw a fresh supply:
Her gifts of yesterday began to fade,

But sweets new-pluck'd were blooming in their stead.

VOL. III.

"All

"All these," she cried, "are mine; and this fair spot "Shall henceforth boast the name of FLORA'S COT. "This Renealmia (b), this lov'd Snowdrop (c) too, "Display my magic Touch and matchless Hue; "This tender Sensitive (d), this Aloe (e) sweet, "Cereus (ƒ) and Cyclamen (g) all Art defeat. "Yes, mine are all the lovely train I see,"Unrivall'd FLORA's beauteous Family."

Self-charm'd she paus'd,-but soon, advancing near,
Another's Magic on the Walls appear;

Another FLORA seem'd to breathe and glow,
Lotus () unfold, and love-sick Kalmia (i) blow.
The Goddess gaz'd, and, mad'ning with the smart,
Felt the fierce anguish of a Jealous Heart.

"And shall a mortal Pencil thus presume,"
She cried," to emulate my heavenly Bloom?
"Shall my own offspring thus untimely die,
"And Art's frail progeny thus flourish nigh?
"Shall these erect a Temple of their own,
"And I ascend a poor divided Throne?
"Forbid it NATURE!"

NATURE rose to view;

To meet whose arms the angry goddess flew;

Then told her tale, then pointed to the flowers
Whereon proud ART had lavish'd all her powers;
Till more indignant, as she more survey'd
The imitation nice of light and shade,

Th' unfolding leaf, the soft bud newly burst,-
A second FLORA vieing with the first,-

"Theft!" she exclaim'd, " 'tis theft-these must be mine, "Plunder'd, O NATURE! from my holy shrine:

"I, only 1, could these rich tints bestow, "I, only I, can give that kindling glow."

"Soft!" said the Sister-Goddess, with a smile, "Beauties derived from us, yet not by guile; "But fond delight, and laudable desire

"To paint the Charms and Graces we inspire,
"Demand our praise-'tis incense at our shrine
"And Art but proves our Empire more divine.
"Art's noblest effort but exalts our Fame;

"Different the Fanes, the Goddess is the same:
"To us e'en heaven-born Genius bends the knee!"
Here FLORA Smil'd, and all was Harmony.

NOTES,

NOTES.

Note (a), pages 208, 209.

THE British Empire, observes Dr. Thornton, whilst supporting the destinies of Europe, great, beyond any former example, in the exploits of her Warriors, at the same time that she crowns the brow of the Conqueror with the laurel expressive of victory, respects and cherishes the Liberal Arts, which add no less to the glory of a nation.

Thus, whilst her thunders are hurled in the North, South, and East; the labours of Art are encouraged at home, and under BRITANNIA'S auspices, even during a period of more than ten years' warfare, supported with the firmness and dignity of a truly great nation, stupendous Works have been undertaken, which prove the great advancement of the Imitative Arts. Nor have the arts of Painting and Engraving alone reached their pre-eminence, but the English have likewise carried the manufactory of Paper to the utmost pitch of perfection, and our Type has risen superior to that of any other civilized nation of the globe.

With all these combined advantages, the Labours of Genius and of Talent have been brought forward in a way highly creditable to the respective Authors, and honourable to our Nation. Hence have appeared those Galleries of Paintings, illustrative of our immortal Bards, Shakspeare and Milton, whilst the Sacred and Historic Pages are adorned with the useful exertions of a most noble Art, which does far more than language can accomplish.-Whilst the combined powers of such a Nation are thus assembled to illustrate and embellish the fancy of Poets, or Sacred and Historic Truth; the Science of Botany, advanced as it has been by Linnæus and subsequent authors, and by the glowing imaginations of modern Poets, seemed to claim also a right to press the Arts into her service.

Hence have appeared Dr. T.'s Philosophy of Botany, including a New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnæus, and his Temple of Flora, or Garden of Nature.

* These works are now publishing, dedicated, by permission, to Her Majesty. The Collection of Paintings in the Doctor's Exhibition was for the embellishment, or illustration, of these works.

The Portrait of Dr. Thornton (by Russell, R. A.) is graced by some

elegant Verses, which begin thus:

Thornton! while polished Darwin tells

The loves of Flora's gaudy train,

'Tis thine to guard from time's decay

The fading glories of her reign.

Thy garden of perpetual bloom

No change of threatening skies can fear;
Nor dashing rains, nor chilling blasts,
Can reach the lovely fav'rites here.

Note (b), page 210.

Some very beautiful Verses addressed to this Plant will be found amongst the Poetical Contributions of the present volume. The plant comes from Surinam. The charming painting in the Doctor's “ Exhibition" is by P. Henderson.

Note (c), page 210.

Kindred Affection and impartial Justice unite in urging me to re-publish in this place some Stanzas from one of the sweetest tributes perhaps ever paid to this interesting flower by the Muse of my SYBIL, many of whose original effusions will be seen in the course of this volume. The Snow-drop is the 21st of Dr. T.'s Exhibition, by Pether, to whose painting, the verses are affixed. They originally appeared in the “Gleanings,” but have since been transplanted into various Collections.

THE SNOW-DROP.

Poets, still, in graceful numbers,
May the glowing roses choose;
But the Snow-drop's simple beauty
Better suits an humble muse.

Earliest bud that decks the garden,
Fairest of the fragrant race;
First-born child of vernal Flora,
Seeking mild thy lowly place.

Though