Where the wide heath in purple pride extends, And scatter'd furze its golden lustre blends, Closed in a green recess, unenvy'd lot! 90 The blue smoak rises from their turf-built cot; Bosom'd in fragrance blush their infant train, Eye the warm sun, or drink the silver rain. The fair OSMUNDA seeks the silent dell, The ivy canopy, and dripping cell; 95 There hid in shades _clandestine_ rites approves, Till the green progeny betrays her loves. [_Osmunda_. l. 93. This plant grows on moist rocks; the parts of its flower or its seeds are scarce discernible; whence Linneus has given the name of clandestine marriage to this class. The younger plants are of a beautiful vivid green.] With charms despotic fair CHONDRILLA reigns O'er the soft hearts of _five_ fraternal swains; If sighs the changeful nymph, alike they mourn; 100 And, if she smiles, with rival raptures burn. So, tun'd in unison, Eolian Lyre! Sounds in sweet symphony thy kindred wire; Now, gently swept by Zephyr's vernal wings, Sink in soft cadences the love-sick strings; 105 And now with mingling chords, and voices higher, Peal the full anthems of the aerial choir. [_Chondrilla_. l. 97. Of the class Confederate Males. The numerous florets, which constitute the disk of the flowers in this class, contain in each five males surrounding one female, which are connected at top, whence the name of the class. An Italian writer, in a discourse on the irritability of flowers, asserts, that if the top of the floret be touched, all the filaments which support the cylindrical anther will contrast themselves, and that by thus raising or depressing the anther the whole of the prolific dust is collected on the stigma. He adds, that if one filament be touched after it is separated from the floret, that it will contract like the muscular fibres of animal bodies, his experiments were tried on the Centauréa Calcitrapoides, and on artichokes, and globe-thistles. Discourse on the irratability of plants. Dodsley.] _Five_ sister-nymphs to join Diana's train With thee, fair LYCHNIS! vow,--but vow in vain; Beneath one roof resides the virgin band, 110 Flies the fond swain, and scorns his offer'd hand; But when soft hours on breezy pinions move, And smiling May attunes her lute to love, Each wanton beauty, trick'd in all her grace, Shakes the bright dew-drops from her blushing face; 115 In gay undress displays her rival charms, And calls her wondering lovers to her arms. When the young Hours amid her tangled hair Wove the fresh rose-bud, and the lily fair,