But I digress, and lo! an Infant-train Appear, and call me to my task again. ‘Why _Lonicera_ wilt thou name thy child?’ I ask’d the _Gardener_’s Wife, in accents mild: “We have a right,” replied the sturdy dame;-- And _Lonicera_ was the Infant’s name. If next a Son shall yield our Gardener joy, Then _Hyacinthus_ shall be that fair boy; And if a Girl, they will at length agree, That _Belladonna_ that fair maid shall be. High-sounding words our worthy Gardener gets, And at his Club to wondering Swains repeats; He then of _Rhus_ and _Rhododendron_ speaks, And _Allium_ calls his Onions and his Leeks; Nor Weeds are now, for whence arose the Weed, Scarce Plants, fair Herbs and curious Flowers proceed; Where _Cuckoo-pints_ and _Dandelions_ sprung, (Gross names had they our plainer sires among;) There _Arums_, there _Leontodons_ we view, And _Artimisia_ grows, where _Wormwood_ grew. But though no weed exists, his Garden round, From _Rumex_ strong our Gardener frees his ground, Takes soft _Senicio_ from the yielding land, And grasps the arm’d _Urtica_ in his hand. Not DARWIN’s self had more delight to sing Of Floral Courtship, in th’ awaken’d spring; Than _Peter Pratt_, who simpering loves to tell, How rise the _Stamens_, as the _Pistils_ swell; How bend and curl the moist-top to the spouse, And give and take the vegetable vows; How those esteem’d of old, but tips and chives, Are tender husbands and obedient wives; Who live and love within the sacred bower,-- That bridal bed, the vulgar term a Flower. Hear _Peter_ proudly, to some humble friend, A wondrous secret, in his science lend;-- “Would you advance the nuptial hour, and bring “The fruit of Autumn, with the flowers of Spring; “View that light frame where _Cucumis_ lies spread, “And trace the husbands in their golden bed, “Three powder’d _Anthers_;--then no more delay, “But to the _Stigma_’s top, their dust convey; “Then by thyself, from prying glance secure, “Twirl the full tip and make your purpose sure; “A long-abiding race the deed shall pay, “Nor one unblest abortion pine away.” T’ admire their friend’s discourse our Swains agree, And call it Science and Philosophy. ’Tis good, ’tis pleasant, through th’ advancing year, To see unnumber’d growing Forms appear; What leafy-life from Earth’s broad bosom rise! What insect-myriads seek the summer skies! What scaly tribes in every streamlet move! } What plumy people sing in every grove! } All with the year awak’d, to life, delight and love.} Then Names are good, for how, without their aid Is knowledge, gain’d by man, to man convey’d? But from that source shall all our pleasure flow? Shall all our knowledge be those Names to know? Then He, with memory blest, shall bear away