I.

VIRTUE, the growth of ev’ry clime,

Alike should be rever’d;

Whether from distant regions brought,

Or in our country rear’d.

II.

Rome, the great mistress of the world,

Such height had ne’er attain’d;

The train of worth in ev’ry land

Had her proud sons disdain’d.

III.

From foreign arms, from foreign arts,

Her native glory rose;

And more than half her boasted state

She borrow’d from her foes.

IV.

Vain is that boast of selfish pride,

Which deems no worth is found,

But in the narrow sphere confin’d

Of its own native ground.

V.

Though not to foreign lands, untaught,

We need for Virtue roam;

Yet real Virtue, nurs’d abroad,

Should be rever’d at home.—

VI.

On fair Ierne’s happy shore

A tall Arbutus plac’d,

Bloom’d near a sweetly-cultur’d spot,

By Pinks unnumber’d grac’d,

VII.

’Twas on the border of that lake[24],

Where vary’d prospects rise,

Of sunny hills, o’er-hanging rocks,

And low’ring misty skies;

VIII.

Selina, wand’ring near the Lake,

The foreign tree survey’d;

“And bloom’st thou ’midst our native Flow’rs?”

Exclaim’d the redd’ning maid—

IX.

“O could these hands thy root remove!

“But since that may not be,

“Far I’ll transplant my fragrant Race,

“Now plac’d too near to thee.”

X.

She said—when strait before her stood

An ancient Hermit grave;

With silver’d locks and streaming beard,

The tenant of the cave;

XI.

“Desist, fond maid! the Hermit cry’d,

“Lest these thy favour’d flow’rs

“Should die, if hastily remov’d

“From these their well-known bow’rs;

XII.

“What if the tall Arbutus share

“Th’ indulgence of thy land;

“Do not his sweetly fragrant flow’rs

“As fair a lot demand?

XIII.

“Nor let Ierne’s children grieve,

“Where foreign worth is shown;

“But learn with cultivating care

“To make that worth their own.

XIV.

“For thee, fair maid—the patriot flame

“Still nourish in thy breast:

“But let that flame by Reason’s rules

“Be modell’d and repress’d.

XV.

“Know that thy country’s weal depends

“Not on herself alone;

“But each assisting hand that strives

“To fix fair Freedom’s throne.

XVI.

“Commerce and Stores from other lands

“Your glories still increase;

“Encourage then the golden stream,

“And ev’ry art of peace.

XVII.

“Nor foreign Flow’rs, nor foreign Plants,

“Deny a fost’ring place;

“When those fair Plants or blooming Flow’rs

“Bring Profit, Sweet, or Grace.

XVIII.

“Reject alone the idle weed,

“That blooms but to destroy;

“To cultivate the rest with care

“Your utmost skill employ.”

XIX.

He ceas’d;—the Nymph her task forsook,

And still together bloom

The beautous Tree, and fragrant Flow’rs,

Whence Zephyrs steal perfume.