Fearless of winter, it defies
The rigour of inclement skies,
And early hastens forth to bring
The tidings of approaching spring.

Though simple in its dress and plain,
It ushers in a beauteous train;
And claims, how gaudy e'er they be,
The merit of precedency.

All that the gay or sweet compose,
The pink, the violet, and the rose,
In fair succession as they blow,
Their glories to the snowdrop owe.

FLORE PRIMITIÆ.

VIRGINEUM casto caput en! recline pudore
Flosculus ostentat, de nive nomen habens!
Ecce! recens natum primus resalutet ut annum,
Exerit e gelida se properanter humo!

Nec rigidi conterret eum inclementia cæli,
Frigida nec Boreæ vis, hyemisque minæ ;
Axe statim verso, quin protinus exit in auras,
Veris ut instantis nuncia læta ferat.

Nativo quamvis cultu candoreque simplex,
Pulchrum illa inducit simplicitate chorum,
Nec totidem veneres inter, quotcunque sequuntur,
Se primum dubitat promeruisse locum.

Quicquid enim tenerum spirant, vel amabile miscent,
Lilia, vel violæ, purpureæque rosæ,

Quique aliis alii succedunt floribus, omne
Ex uno excipiunt simplice flore decus.

H

LOVE DISARM'D,

BY PRIOR.

BENEATH a myrtle's verdant shade,
As Chloe half asleep was laid,
Cupid perch'd lightly on her breast,
And in that heaven desir'd to rest:
Over her paps his wings he spread,
Between he found a downy bed,
And nestled in his little head.

Still lay the god: the nymph surpris'd, Yet mistress of herself, devis'd

How she the vagrant might inthral;
And captive him, who captives all.
Her boddice half-way she unlac'd:
About his arms she slily cast
The silken bond, and held him fast.

The god awak'd; and thrice in vain He strove to break the cruel chain : And thrice in vain he shook his wing, Encumber'd in the silken string.

Flutt'ring the god, and weeping, said, Pity poor Cupid, generous maid,

AMOR INERMIS.

QUA myrtus ramis viridem contexuit umbram
Diffusis, jacuit semisupina Chloe.

Huc tacito accessit tendens vestigia gressu,
Et furtim in molli pectore sedit Amor.
Expansis mammas alis protexit, et intus
Intrusum occuluit parvulus erro caput.

Ut nympha excussit somnum, perterrita numen
In tepido sensit delituisse sinu.

At revocans animos, fraudem sub pectore versat,
Cætera qui fallit, fallere certa deum.

Tum solvens zonam, pueri per brachia ducit,
Et teneras vincit callida nympha manus.

Sopitum lædunt divum nova vincula; somne,
Non ita cum vinc'lis excutienda tuis;

Ter filum vano tentat diffringere nisu,
Ter frustra ad celerem tenditur ala fugam.

Et trepidam quatiens pennam, cum fletibus inquit, "Fortunæ ignoscas, blanda puella, meæ ;

Who happen'd, being blind, to stray,
And on thy bosom lost his way:
Who stray'd, alas! but knew too well,
He never there must hope to dwell.
Set an unhappy pris'ner free,

Who ne'er intended harm to thee."

"To me pertains not,” she replies, "To know or care where Cupid flies; What are his haunts, or which his way; Where he would dwell, or whither stray: Yet will I never set thee free;

For harm was meant, and harm to me."

"Vain fears that vex thy virgin heart! I'll give thee up my bow and dart : Untangle but this cruel chain, And freely let me fly again."

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Agreed! secure my virgin heart;
Instant give up thy bow and dart :
The chain I'll in return untie ;
And freely thou again shalt fly."
Thus she the captive did deliver;
The captive thus gave up his quiver.

The god, disarm'd, e'er since that day, Passes his life in harmless play ;