I.
HIGH rose the Sun, the fleeting hours
Verg’d tow’rds meridian height,
And all around the glitt’ring scene
Was lost in floods of light.
II.
The flocks and herds, that graz’d awhile,
Now left the sunny glade;
And in the stream their fervour cool’d,
Or sought the shelt’ring shade.
III.
Beneath a high projected fence,
At this irradiate hour,
The sweet
Dianthus[25]
humbly blew,
A solitary Flow’r.
IV.
But where a thousand mingling sweets
Diffus’d a rich perfume;
The gaudy Cock’s Comb, idly vain,
Appear’d in all its bloom.
V.
And “Matchless excellence!” he cry’d,
“With me what can compare?
“The sweetest of the vernal train
“Were never half so fair.
VI.
“My crested head erect I rear,
“And bloom with matchless grace;
“The brightest hue my leaves adorns,
“Of all the flow’ry race.
VII.
“Nay, to immortal pow’rs a-kin,
“Descent from Heav’n I claim
[26];
“And from eternal-blooming Flow’rs
“Derive my honour’d name.”
VIII.
I view’d the Plant, its form admir’d;
When a more modest Flow’r
Engag’d my eye, where soft it rose
Within its lonely bow’r.
IX.
“Sweet tribes, (he sang,) fair Flora’s care,
“What beauties you display!
“My breast expands with social joy
“To see your bright array.
X.
“To me, the last of flow’rets, give,
“Within this pale to grow:
“And give the west winds gentle breath
“O’er this my bed to blow.”
XI.
He spoke—the pow’rs indulgent heard,
Soft Zephyrs fann’d the trees;
And o’er his humble earthy bed
Diffus’d a gentle breeze.
XII.
Smit with the fragrance of the scent
The winds rejoicing bore;
I own’d the pow’r of modest worth,
Whose rival charm’d no more
[27].
XIII.
Say, Fair-ones, is the Moral plain,
In easy Fable drest?
It is but this—To Merit true,
Throw Coxcombs from your breast.