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With nicest art and purest taste,
The many color'd blossoms plac'd,
Like fragments of the rainbow bright.
In soft'ning, varying, tints unite.
Or lovelier still by contrast's pow'r,
The dark leaves mingle with the flow'r,
And jasmines on their polish'd bed
Around their pallid lustre shed,
Like stars that gleam in midnight hour.
The many color'd blossoms plac'd,
Like fragments of the rainbow bright.
In soft'ning, varying, tints unite.
Or lovelier still by contrast's pow'r,
The dark leaves mingle with the flow'r,
And jasmines on their polish'd bed
Around their pallid lustre shed,
Like stars that gleam in midnight hour.
"Here mighty monarch," cried the fair,
(Raising the lovely wreaths in air)"
Of nature, and of art the pride,
"To thee I bring. Behold! decide!
"One from the garden's fragrant store,
"To me my duteous maidens bore;
"The artist's imitative band,
"The other fram'd at my command."
Say, then, great king, most wise of men!
"Say can thine art the diff'rence ken?"
(Raising the lovely wreaths in air)"
Of nature, and of art the pride,
"To thee I bring. Behold! decide!
"One from the garden's fragrant store,
"To me my duteous maidens bore;
"The artist's imitative band,
"The other fram'd at my command."
Say, then, great king, most wise of men!
"Say can thine art the diff'rence ken?"
