FABLE XX. The DEADLY NIGHTSHADE[23].

I. “DETESTED weed, enrag’d, I said, “That spread’st thy poison’d train “In this fair land, midst blooming flow’rs, “Which grace the happy plain! II. “Thy baleful root most surely springs “From deep Tartarean shade; “By envious Dæmons nurs’d below, “In Stygian gloom array’d. III. “Thee Circe, and Medæa too, “In black enchantment us’d; “With baneful plants most fitly mix’d, “In hellish steams suffus’d. IV. “Ah! why does Parent Nature form, “Such works, her works to spoil; “And by her own hand teach mankind, “Infernal arts and guile? V. “Say, fell Enchantress of the plain, “The foe of human-kind? “Say for what crimes man’s hapless race “From thee such evils find! VI. “Oh! quit the woods, the plains, the fields, “Where health and plenty bloom: “Retire to rocks and desart-wilds, “Or shade the Murd’rer’s tomb. VII. “Or rather haste to Pluto’s realm; “There hide thy hated head, “And flourish still unrival’d there; “Where Styx’ nine streams are spread. VIII. “But here may ev’ry healing flow’r “In prime of beauty bloom: “To sick’ning Man restoring health, “And shedding rich perfume!” IX. I ceas’d—The Flow’r indignant heard; And all its leaves display’d A deep’ning gloom, which flung around A double night of shade. X. “Insulting Man!” she trembling cry’d, “Of creatures most unjust; “Still taxing Nature with those faults, “Sprung from his evil lust. XI. “The poison’d Snake, the noxious Weed, “Earth’s venom’d juices drain; “And, more than all yon’ fragrant flow’rs, “Enrich with health the plain. XII. “Nay of my race grows many a plant, “Which, of rich gifts possest, “The sage Physician culls with care, “To ease the Patient’s breast. XIII. “Let Man his own wild passions tame, “And hush them into Peace; “Medæa’s wand, and Circe’s cup, “Were innocent to these. XIV. “For me, great Nature’s high behest; “Contented I fulfil; “Nor dream that aught by her ordain’d, “Can ever end in ill. XV. “Go thou, fond youth, and Virtue’s charge “With equal care obey: “Then ev’ry Weed shall prove a Flow’r, “To strew thy destin’d way.”