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The botanic garden, a poem

In two parts. Part I. Containing The economy of Vegetation, Part II. The Loves of the plants. With philosophical notes. The fourth edition. [by Erasmus Darwin]
Darwin, Erasmus (1731-1802)
  
[epigraph]

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TO THE AUTHOR OF THE POEM ON THE LOVES OF THE PLANTS.
  
TO Dr. DARWIN.
  
TO Dr. DARWIN.
  
TO Dr. DARWIN.
  
Address to the River Derwent, on whose Banks the Author of the Botanic Garden resides.
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THE BOTANIC GARDEN.
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PART I. CONTAINING THE ECONOMY OF VEGETATION
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CANTO I.
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VII.
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CANTO II.
  
[prologue]
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VI.
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CANTO III.
  
[prologue]
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V.
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VIII.
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CANTO IV.
  
[prologue]
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X.
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XIV.
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PART II. CONTAINING THE LOVES OF THE PLANTS
 I. 
CANTO I.
 II. 
CANTO II.
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CANTO III.
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CANTO IV.

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XI.

“Come, ye soft Sylphs! who fan the Paphian groves,
And bear on sportive wings the callow Loves;
Call with sweet whisper, in each gale that blows,
The slumbering Snow-drop from her long repose;
Charm the pale Primrose from her clay-cold bed,
Unveil the bashful Violet's tremulous head;
While from her bud the playful Tulip breaks,
And young Carnations peep with blushing cheeks;
Bid the closed Corol from nocturnal cold
Curtain'd with silk the virgin Stigma fold,
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Shake into viewless air the morning dews,
And wave in light its iridescent hues.
So shall from high the bursting Anther trust
To the mild breezes the prolific dust;
Or bow his waxen head with graceful pride,
Watch the first blushes of his waking bride,
Give to her hand the honey'd cup, or sip
Celestial nectar from her sweeter lip;
Hang in soft raptures o'er the yielding Fair,
Love out his hour, and leave his life in air.
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So in his silken sepulchre the Worm,
Warm'd with new life, unfolds his larva-form;
Erewhile aloft in wanton circles moves,
And woos on Hymen-wings his velvet loves.
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