“I who long since had, happier far, “Been by some fair caress’d; “Had drunk the radiance of her eye, “And panted on her breast?
“What have I done, O wretch! that still “This evil treatment meets; “Or hast thou aught in lieu to give “To those who lose my sweets?”
She said:—the Hawthorn thus reply’d, “Fond pageant of an hour! “Art _thou_ displeas’d because _I_ bloom, “Though shelter’d by my pow’r?
“And know’st thou not that but for _me_ “Thy boasted bloom were vain; “By grazing herds trod under foot, “And level’d with the plain?
“_Thee_ I protect; _myself_ am known “Among the warlike race; “Whom Nature arms with prompt defence “Of most excelling grace.
“Nor idly I these weapons wear, “Nor idle is my bloom; “One arms me for myself and thee; “The other sheds perfume.
“And oft as this returning month “Adds vigour to the year; “Crown’d with my gems in rustic dance “The nymphs and swains appear.
“Me the fleet hare, and tim’rous fawn, “Seek at their greatest need; “They rest secure beneath my shade, “And on my bounty feed.
“But most the plaintive Philomel, “Sweet warbler of the grove, “Joys ’midst my branches to repose, “And sing her hapless love.
“Against my thorns her bosom plac’d, “She strains her tuneful throat; “And by my useful aid exalts “Each sweetly trilling note.
“Sacred to FLORA, of her train “Although no flow’r am I; “And born to flourish many a moon, “When thou shalt fade and die.”
“Cease then, nor envy this my state, “Which must _thy own_ defend; “The thorns I bear shall save thy flow’r, “And prove thy surest friend.”
So spake the HAWTHORN, justly wise; The ROSE unansw’ring heard: I caught the Moral, as it rose; And thus its sense appear’d:
_Life’s humble vale is most secure;_ _Cares on th’ exalted wait:_ _Yet those who well the weak protect_ _Deserve_ UNENVY’D STATE.
Contending beauties, whom the doom Of Fate has still assign’d Two fragrant rival flow’rs to blow, And scent the western wind;
The WHITE ROSE and the BLUSHING RED, Each one the garden’s pride, With equal grace their leaves display’d, And flourish’d side by side.
The _first_ of spotless beauty vain That sudden caught the eye, The _last_ attentive praise to gain From her more sanguine dye.
Of sov’reign virtue both well known, Both favour’d from above: Still full of glory rose each flow’r, Emblems of gentle Love.