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| FAIN would my Muse the flow’ry treasures sing, | |
| And humble glories of the youthful Spring; | |
| Where op’ning roses breathing sweets diffuse, | |
| And soft carnations shower their balmy dews; | |
| Where lilies smile in virgin robes of white, | 5 |
| The thin undress of superficial light; | |
| And varied tulips show so dazzling gay, | |
| Blushing in bright diversities of day. | |
| Each painted flow’ret in the lake below | |
| Surveys its beauties, whence its beauties grow; | 10 |
| And pale Narcissus, on the bank in vain | |
| Transformëd, gazes on himself again. | |
| Here aged trees cathedral walks compose, | |
| And mount the hill in venerable rows; | |
| There the green infants in their beds are laid, | 15 |
| The garden’s hope, and its expected shade. | |
| Here orange trees with blooms and pendants shine, | |
| And Vernal honours to their Autumn join; | |
| Exceed their promise in the ripen’d store, | |
| Yet in the rising blossom promise more. | 20 |
| There in bright drops the crystal fountains play, | |
| By laurels shielded from the piercing day; | |
| Where Daphne, now a tree as once a maid, | |
| Still from Apollo vindicates her shade; | |
| Still turns her beauties from th’ invading beam, | 25 |
| Nor seeks in vain for succour to the stream. | |
| The stream at once preserves her virgin leaves, | |
| At once a shelter from her boughs receives, | |
| Where summer’s beauty midst of winter stays, | |
| And winter’s coolness spite of summer’s rays. | 30 |
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