The ALOE in BLOSSOM.
I.
“From warmer climates early borne,
“Where beams the god of light;
“How gaily blooms yon lofty plant,
“In native colours bright!
II.
“The root, the plant, the leaf, the flow’r,
“Alike our wonder raise;
“And all confess the fragrant stock,
“Renown’d in ancient days.
III.
“Some say, but one revolving age
“Beholds thy beauties spread;
“And rear aloft to genial suns
“Its highly blooming head.
IV.
“But thou, like Merit, kindly nurs’d,
“An early spring wilt know;
“While, check’d by rigid, frowning skies,
“Thy gems forget to glow.
V.
“Emblem of Genius rarely known,
“And still more rarely giv’n;
“To reap the good itself imparts,
“And share the gifts of Heav’n.
VI.
“Say, glorious stranger, rear’d erewhile
“In distant, sunny lands;
“Can either India more bestow,
“Than Albion’s isle commands?
VII.
“In western and in southern climes
“Too long hast thou been plac’d;
“And India’s sands, and Afric’s wilds,
“Thy beauteous presence grac’d.
VIII.
“Deign then, O sov’reign plant, thy balm,
“On this our land bestow;
“And give thy flow’rs in all their grace
“And lustre here to blow.”—
IX.
The Guardian Sylph, that watch’d the flow’r,
Confess’d before me stood;
And shook his bright and sunny locks,
And thus my suit withstood:
X.
“Cease, cease, he cry’d, such boons to ask,
“As scarce deserve a name;
“While Albion, favour’d from above,
“Can greater blessings claim.
XI.
“Still, still, their gems and spicy store,
“Let either India boast;
“And Afric vaunt the precious sands,
“That glitter on her coast.
XII.
“Not these, nor all the hidden wealth,
“That earth or sea possess;
“Can match those richer gifts of heav’n,
“Which fair Britannia bless.
XIII.
“Peace, Freedom, Wealth from farthest shores,
“By golden commerce brought;
“All these are hers, and ev’ry good,
“By happiest nations sought.
XIV.
“Nor this alone; here Genius blooms,
“A Flow’r excelling mine.
“Nor asks a whole revolving age,
“In glories to refine.
XV.
“Here too the Fair, with beauty bright,
“The hearts of heroes warm;
“Those human blossoms genial blow,
“And put forth ev’ry charm.
XVI.
“Cease then, nor envy other climes
“Their beauties thinly strewn;
“But learn with decent pride to prize
“The blessings of your own.”