NGELICA. Angelica. Class 5, Pentandria. Order 2: Digynia. This plant is named angelica in allusion to its agreeable smell and medicinal qualities. It has winged leaves divided into large segments; its stalks are hollow and jointed, the flowers grow in an umbel upon the tops of the stalks, and consist of five leaves, succeeded by two large channelled seeds. Archangelica is sometimes cultivated in gardens for its leaf-stalks, to be blanched and eaten as celery, or candied with sugar. In Lapland, where it is also found, it is used to crown poets, who fancy themselves inspired by its agreeable odour.
INSPIRATION.
My fancy form’d thee of angelic kind.
Pope.
Amid the burning stars of night I saw
A brighter glory —for thy spirit shone
Through the clear heavens all beautiful, alone,
And fill’d my heart with rapture and with awe.
I heard thy voice—blest who their Maker’s law
Within their inmost soul in peace enthrone,
For this celestial world is all their own;
No earthly gaud hath ever power to draw
Downward their brighter gaze—Oh! be thou one!
Thou whom I loved upon that lower scene,
Soar up and join me!—dark clouds swept between—
The stars were veil’d—the radiant light was gone—
Yet, Angel Spirit! when earth’s shadows flee,
On hope’s immortal wing I trust to follow thee.
A brighter glory —for thy spirit shone
Through the clear heavens all beautiful, alone,
And fill’d my heart with rapture and with awe.
I heard thy voice—blest who their Maker’s law
Within their inmost soul in peace enthrone,
For this celestial world is all their own;
No earthly gaud hath ever power to draw
Downward their brighter gaze—Oh! be thou one!
Thou whom I loved upon that lower scene,
Soar up and join me!—dark clouds swept between—
The stars were veil’d—the radiant light was gone—
Yet, Angel Spirit! when earth’s shadows flee,
On hope’s immortal wing I trust to follow thee.
Anon.