ADDRESSTO AN EARLY SNOW-DROP.
Hail to thee, modest child of early spring,
Who ventur'st forth regardless of the storm
That beats around thy tender fragile form,
What tidings dost thou, little wand'rer, bring?
Who ventur'st forth regardless of the storm
That beats around thy tender fragile form,
What tidings dost thou, little wand'rer, bring?
Art thou thy blooming parent's herald come?
If so, I'll pluck thee from thy feeble stem,
And safe I'll bear thee to some warmer clime,
Where soon thou shalt in greater splendour bloom.
If so, I'll pluck thee from thy feeble stem,
And safe I'll bear thee to some warmer clime,
Where soon thou shalt in greater splendour bloom.
But stay, perhaps 'twere barbarous in me
To take thee from thy humble peaceful hank;
Thou wert not born to shine in higher rank,
I may effect a change I would not see.
To take thee from thy humble peaceful hank;
Thou wert not born to shine in higher rank,
I may effect a change I would not see.
Rest then, thou pretty emblem of content,
I will not tear thee from thy happy fate;
Bloom on, sweet flower, ere yet it be too late,
Unfold thy charms, the passing zephyr's scent.
I will not tear thee from thy happy fate;
Bloom on, sweet flower, ere yet it be too late,
Unfold thy charms, the passing zephyr's scent.