FABLE II. 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.”