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Page:Floras Lexicon-1840.djvu/44

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FLORA’S LEXICON.
31

AURICULA. 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 hues
From the rich landscape that Italia gave,—
Claude! whose celestial genius could transfuse
Heaven’s beauty into earth’s, and both combine
In those undying paintings only thine;

Could’st thou have travell’d to our western sky,
And near’d the setting sun, whose vesture spreads
Its gold and purple, blent harmoniously;
When Autumn chills the foliage, and sheds
O’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 gush
With 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.