FABLE XI.TheVIOLET Transplanted.
I.WHEREfragrant field-flow’rs, gaily spread,Drink deep the morning dew;Close by a murm’ring riv’let’s sideAn humble Vi’let grew.II.To her the cultur’d spot unknown,She bloom’d in her retreat;And there in native fragrance bless’d,Dispers’d a world of sweet.III.But yet not undisturb’d her lotBy Providence was cast;For oft’ the herds went grazing forthAnd laid the meadow waste.IV.And oft’ the trav’ler’s careless stepHad laid her on the plain;Yet, by the living streamlet fed,She soon reviv’d again.V.At length a curious Florist sawThe sweetly blooming flow’r;Call’d her the field’s and garden’s pride,And plac’d her in his bow’r.VI.Here, with a thousand beauties rang’d,Her elegance was lost;No more the cultur’d spot she grac’d;No more fairFlora’sboast.VII.Abandon’d by his hand, who firstHer charms with pleasure view’d;She in her rise beheld her fate,And now neglected stood.VIII.She droop’d, she pin’d; the richer soilNo nurture could afford;And oft’ in vain her humbler lotThe fading flow’r deplor’d.IX.The happier tribes that flourish’d roundDid each her state deride;Rejoicing that she paid so dearFor what they deem’d her pride.X.The Sun in Cancer flam’d aloftDry thirst her moisture drank;In vain she wish’d the lucent flood,Or shade of osiers dank.XI.Oppress’d at length she drooping fell,As ready to expire;Her bosom unresisting spreadTo Sol’s consuming fire.XII.When lo! from heav’n a gentle rainCool’d that too fervid ray;And soon reviv’d the beauteous flow’r,Which glow’d upon the day.XIII.Her bloom restor’d, renew’d again;Her former lord attends;And midst the fairest of the fairShe numbers now her friends.XIV.Yet, deeply struck with former ills,An humble flow’r she blooms;No pride that lovely bosom knows,WhenceZephyrsteals perfumes;XV.And to the Fair this useful truthShe evermore reveals;That she best knows her Beauty’s force,Who modestly conceals.
I.WHEREfragrant field-flow’rs, gaily spread,Drink deep the morning dew;Close by a murm’ring riv’let’s sideAn humble Vi’let grew.II.To her the cultur’d spot unknown,She bloom’d in her retreat;And there in native fragrance bless’d,Dispers’d a world of sweet.III.But yet not undisturb’d her lotBy Providence was cast;For oft’ the herds went grazing forthAnd laid the meadow waste.IV.And oft’ the trav’ler’s careless stepHad laid her on the plain;Yet, by the living streamlet fed,She soon reviv’d again.V.At length a curious Florist sawThe sweetly blooming flow’r;Call’d her the field’s and garden’s pride,And plac’d her in his bow’r.VI.Here, with a thousand beauties rang’d,Her elegance was lost;No more the cultur’d spot she grac’d;No more fairFlora’sboast.VII.Abandon’d by his hand, who firstHer charms with pleasure view’d;She in her rise beheld her fate,And now neglected stood.VIII.She droop’d, she pin’d; the richer soilNo nurture could afford;And oft’ in vain her humbler lotThe fading flow’r deplor’d.IX.The happier tribes that flourish’d roundDid each her state deride;Rejoicing that she paid so dearFor what they deem’d her pride.X.The Sun in Cancer flam’d aloftDry thirst her moisture drank;In vain she wish’d the lucent flood,Or shade of osiers dank.XI.Oppress’d at length she drooping fell,As ready to expire;Her bosom unresisting spreadTo Sol’s consuming fire.XII.When lo! from heav’n a gentle rainCool’d that too fervid ray;And soon reviv’d the beauteous flow’r,Which glow’d upon the day.XIII.Her bloom restor’d, renew’d again;Her former lord attends;And midst the fairest of the fairShe numbers now her friends.XIV.Yet, deeply struck with former ills,An humble flow’r she blooms;No pride that lovely bosom knows,WhenceZephyrsteals perfumes;XV.And to the Fair this useful truthShe evermore reveals;That she best knows her Beauty’s force,Who modestly conceals.
I.WHEREfragrant field-flow’rs, gaily spread,Drink deep the morning dew;Close by a murm’ring riv’let’s sideAn humble Vi’let grew.
I.
WHEREfragrant field-flow’rs, gaily spread,
Drink deep the morning dew;
Close by a murm’ring riv’let’s side
An humble Vi’let grew.
II.To her the cultur’d spot unknown,She bloom’d in her retreat;And there in native fragrance bless’d,Dispers’d a world of sweet.
II.
To her the cultur’d spot unknown,
She bloom’d in her retreat;
And there in native fragrance bless’d,
Dispers’d a world of sweet.
III.But yet not undisturb’d her lotBy Providence was cast;For oft’ the herds went grazing forthAnd laid the meadow waste.
III.
But yet not undisturb’d her lot
By Providence was cast;
For oft’ the herds went grazing forth
And laid the meadow waste.
IV.And oft’ the trav’ler’s careless stepHad laid her on the plain;Yet, by the living streamlet fed,She soon reviv’d again.
IV.
And oft’ the trav’ler’s careless step
Had laid her on the plain;
Yet, by the living streamlet fed,
She soon reviv’d again.
V.At length a curious Florist sawThe sweetly blooming flow’r;Call’d her the field’s and garden’s pride,And plac’d her in his bow’r.
V.
At length a curious Florist saw
The sweetly blooming flow’r;
Call’d her the field’s and garden’s pride,
And plac’d her in his bow’r.
VI.Here, with a thousand beauties rang’d,Her elegance was lost;No more the cultur’d spot she grac’d;No more fairFlora’sboast.
VI.
Here, with a thousand beauties rang’d,
Her elegance was lost;
No more the cultur’d spot she grac’d;
No more fairFlora’sboast.
VII.Abandon’d by his hand, who firstHer charms with pleasure view’d;She in her rise beheld her fate,And now neglected stood.
VII.
Abandon’d by his hand, who first
Her charms with pleasure view’d;
She in her rise beheld her fate,
And now neglected stood.
VIII.She droop’d, she pin’d; the richer soilNo nurture could afford;And oft’ in vain her humbler lotThe fading flow’r deplor’d.
VIII.
She droop’d, she pin’d; the richer soil
No nurture could afford;
And oft’ in vain her humbler lot
The fading flow’r deplor’d.
IX.The happier tribes that flourish’d roundDid each her state deride;Rejoicing that she paid so dearFor what they deem’d her pride.
IX.
The happier tribes that flourish’d round
Did each her state deride;
Rejoicing that she paid so dear
For what they deem’d her pride.
X.The Sun in Cancer flam’d aloftDry thirst her moisture drank;In vain she wish’d the lucent flood,Or shade of osiers dank.
X.
The Sun in Cancer flam’d aloft
Dry thirst her moisture drank;
In vain she wish’d the lucent flood,
Or shade of osiers dank.
XI.Oppress’d at length she drooping fell,As ready to expire;Her bosom unresisting spreadTo Sol’s consuming fire.
XI.
Oppress’d at length she drooping fell,
As ready to expire;
Her bosom unresisting spread
To Sol’s consuming fire.
XII.When lo! from heav’n a gentle rainCool’d that too fervid ray;And soon reviv’d the beauteous flow’r,Which glow’d upon the day.
XII.
When lo! from heav’n a gentle rain
Cool’d that too fervid ray;
And soon reviv’d the beauteous flow’r,
Which glow’d upon the day.
XIII.Her bloom restor’d, renew’d again;Her former lord attends;And midst the fairest of the fairShe numbers now her friends.
XIII.
Her bloom restor’d, renew’d again;
Her former lord attends;
And midst the fairest of the fair
She numbers now her friends.
XIV.Yet, deeply struck with former ills,An humble flow’r she blooms;No pride that lovely bosom knows,WhenceZephyrsteals perfumes;
XIV.
Yet, deeply struck with former ills,
An humble flow’r she blooms;
No pride that lovely bosom knows,
WhenceZephyrsteals perfumes;
XV.And to the Fair this useful truthShe evermore reveals;That she best knows her Beauty’s force,Who modestly conceals.
XV.
And to the Fair this useful truth
She evermore reveals;
That she best knows her Beauty’s force,
Who modestly conceals.