Flora's Lexicon/Auricula
URICULA. Primula Auricula. Class 5, Pentandria. Order: Monogynia. As all the most beautiful flowers that were known to the ancients, had been placed in the hieroglyphical language of plants, we had some difficulty in making a selection worthy of representing the delightful art of painting. But our choice has at length fallen on the “queen of the snowy Alps,” as the fittest emblem.
PAINTING.
O thou who seated by the golden wave Of classic Tiber, stol’st the prismy huesFrom the rich landscape that Italia gave,— Claude! whose celestial genius could transfuseHeaven’s beauty into earth’s, and both combineIn those undying paintings only thine;
Could’st thou have travell’d to our western sky, And near’d the setting sun, whose vesture spreadsIts gold and purple, blent harmoniously; When Autumn chills the foliage, and shedsO’er the piled leaves among the evergreen, All colours and all teints to grace the scene;
Thou would’st have shown that there are other climes Besides Ausonia’s where the heart may gushWith overwhelming fulness, and at times Feel the deep influence of bland nature’s hush,When Evening steals in blushes to her West, And clouds are in their marriage garments drest.
Dawes.