FABLE XIV.
THE BLUE-BELL; or,
Venus’s Looking-Glass.
I.
O’ER verdant lawns, and dappled meads,
The young Belinda stray’d;
On ev’ry tree, on ev’ry flow’r,
Philosophis’d the maid.
II.
The Cowslip, and the Primrose too,
Had oft-times been her theme;
And yellow Crocus’ flaming dyes
Had ting’d her waking dream.
III.
For, roving o’er the pathless grass,
Or through the woodland wild;
She oft with Contemplation walk’d
Bright Fancy’s sweetest child.
IV.
Absorb’d and lost in Nature’s maze,
Then rapt from earth she stood;
And, pleas’d, in all his various works,
The great Creator view’d.
V.
’Twas smiling May; the op’ning year
With vernal grace was crown’d;
And ev’ry plant, and ev’ry flow’r,
Diffus’d fresh fragrance round.
VI.
From cultur’d gardens far remote
The beauteous charmer rov’d;
And listen’d to the birds wild notes,
And rang’d those meads she lov’d.
VII.
To court the touch of her fair hand,
Each field-flow’r eager press’d;
To bask beneath her funny eyes,
And kiss her snowy breast.
VIII.
Amongst the crowd, a flow’r she ’spy’d,
Long since well known to fame;
Of Venus’ Looking-glass whose pride
Assum’d the pompous name.
IX.
“And how! she cry’d, can’st thou display,
“To captivate the sight,
“More than the stream, which yonder rolls
“Its glassy mirrour bright?”
X.
She sought in vain; a bell-shap’d flow’r,
With Vi’let blossoms crown’d:
Diffus’d itself with mingled corn,
And purpled o’er the ground.
XI.
She pluck’d, but strait away she cast
The vain pretender far;
Which angry ruffled all its flow’rs,
In vegetable war:
XII.
“What had bright Venus’ mirrour done,
“Thus to be cast aside?
“Or how (she said) could Venus’ Nymph
“The Goddess’ gift deride?”
XIII.
“Peace! angry thing! Belinda said;
“Not Venus I despise;
“But you, who by your own false glass
“Would cheat deluded eyes.
XIV.
“What boots it thus your high descent,
“As Goddess-born, to claim;
“If not one smallest trace appear
“Of your exalted name?
XV.
“Go! in yon’ real mirrour view
“The form which you possess;
“Then speak but what you really are;
“And be your boasting less.
XVI.
“A Blue-bell of the finest dye,
“You well may be allow’d;
“But Venus’ Looking-glass in vain
“Would cheat a giddy crowd.”
XVII.
The haughty flow’r corrected stood.—
Attend, ye British fair:
Let not appearances prevail;
Be real worth your care.
XVIII.
And know, whoe’er by vain pretence
Shall others seek to blind;
Must stand abash’d, when brought before
The mirrour of the mind.
Fab. XV.
The Larkspur & Myrtle
Fab. XVI.
The Poppy & Sun-Flower