University of Virginia Library


37

TO THE EVENING PRIMROSE.

Lov'd floweret, rear thy drooping head,
And wake thy beauty pale!
Thy lovely blossoms haste to spread,
And woo the fragrant gale!
Soon shall the evening breezes blow,
Soon fall the evening dews;
Then raise thy petals fainting low,
Thy modest charms diffuse.

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Yon flaunting sun-flower, by thy side,
In starry radiance gay,
Spreads her rich breast in beauty's pride,
And courts the noon-tide ray.
Whilst, shrinking from the fervid glow,
Thy modest colors fly,
Each graceful floweret drooping low,
Thy silken blossoms die.
But fairer than proud Phœbus' flower
In noon-tide beauty bright,
Art thou, in evening's pensive hour,
By Cynthia's trembling light.
When faintly gleams the western star,
And evening's gentle breeze,
Like sweetest music heard from far,
Sighs softly through the trees:

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Then, lovely in the silver beam
Thy flowerets glistening fair,
With pearly dew-drops brightly gleam,
Resplendent through the air!