The Botanic Garden. Part II. | Page 3

as No. xv. Fig. 4. 5. No. xvii. Fig. 2.
Sixth, the Seeds.
The illustrious author of the Sexual System of Botany, in his preface to
his account of the Natural Orders, ingeniously imagines, that one plant
of each Natural Order was created in the beginning; and that the
intermarriages of these produced one plant of every Genus, or Family;
and that the intermarriages of these Generic, or Family plants, produced
all the Species: and lastly, that the intermarriages of the individuals of
the Species produced the Varieties.
In the following POEM, the name or number of the Class or Order of
each plant is printed in italics; as "Two_ brother swains." "_One House
contains them." and the word "secret" expresses the Class of
Clandestine Marriage.
The Reader, who wishes to become further acquainted with this
delightful field of science, is advised to study the words of the Great
Master, and is apprized that they are exactly and literally translated into
English, by a Society at LICHFIELD, in four Volumes Octavo.
To the SYSTEM OF VEGETABLES is prefixed a copious explanation
of all the Terms used in Botany, translated from a thesis of Dr.
ELMSGREEN, with the plates and references from the Philosophia

Botannica of LINNEUS.
To the FAMILIES OF PLANTS is prefixed a Catalogue of the names
of plants, and other Botanic Terms, carefully accented, to shew their
proper pronunciation; a work of great labour, and which was much
wanted, not only by beginners, but by proficients in BOTANY.

PROEM.
GENTLE READER!
Lo, here a CAMERA OBSCURA is presented to thy view, in which are
lights and shades dancing on a whited canvas, and magnified into
apparent life!--if thou art perfectly at leasure for such trivial amusement,
walk in, and view the wonders of my INCHANTED GARDEN.
Whereas P. OVIDIUS NASO, a great Necromancer in the famous
Court of AUGUSTUS CAESAR, did by art poetic transmute Men,
Women, and even Gods and Goddesses, into Trees and Flowers; I have
undertaken by similar art to restore some of them to their original
animality, after having remained prisoners so long in their respective
vegetable mansions; and have here exhibited them before thee. Which
thou may'st contemplate as diverse little pictures suspended over the
chimney of a Lady's dressing-room, connected only by a slight festoon
of ribbons. And which, though thou may'st not be acquainted with the
originals, may amuse thee by the beauty of their persons, their graceful
attitudes, or the brilliancy of their dress.
FAREWELL.
[Illustration]
THE
LOVES
OF THE

PLANTS.
CANTO I.
Descend, ye hovering Sylphs! aerial Quires,
And sweep with little
hands your silver lyres;
With fairy footsteps print your grassy rings,

Ye Gnomes! accordant to the tinkling strings;
5 While in soft notes
I tune to oaten reed
Gay hopes, and amorous sorrows of the mead.--
From giant Oaks,
that wave their branches dark,
To the dwarf Moss, that clings upon
their bark,
What Beaux and Beauties crowd the gaudy groves,
10
And woo and win their vegetable Loves.
How Snowdrops cold, and blue-eyed Harebels blend
Their tender
tears, as o'er the stream they bend;
The lovesick Violet, and the
Primrose pale
Bow their sweet heads, and whisper to the gale;
15
With secret sighs the Virgin Lily droops,
And jealous Cowslips hang their tawny cups.
How the young Rose in
beauty's damask pride
Drinks the warm blushes of his bashful bride;

With honey'd lips enamour'd Woodbines meet,
20 Clasp with fond
arms, and mix their kisses sweet.--
Stay thy soft-murmuring waters, gentle Rill;
Hush, whispering Winds,
ye ruflling Leaves, be still; Rest, silver Butterflies, your quivering
wings;
Alight, ye Beetles, from your airy rings;
[Vegetable Loves. l. 10. Linneus, the celebrated Swedish naturalist, has
demonstrated, that ail flowers contain families of males or females, or
both; and on their marriages has constructed his invaluable system of
Botany.]
25 Ye painted Moths, your gold-eyed plumage furl,
Bow your wide horns, your spiral trunks uncurl;
Glitter, ye

Glow-worms, on your mossy beds;
Descend, ye Spiders, on your
lengthen'd threads;
Slide here, ye horned Snails, with varnish'd shells;
30 Ye Bee-nymphs, listen in your waxen cells!--
BOTANIC MUSE! who in this latter age
Led by your airy hand the
Swedish sage,
Bad his keen eye your secret haunts explore
On
dewy dell, high wood, and winding shore;
35 Say on each leaf how
tiny Graces dwell;
How laugh the Pleasures in a blossom's bell;
How insect Loves arise
on cobweb wings,
Aim their light shafts, and point their little stings.
First the tall CANNA lifts his curled brow
40 Erect to heaven, and
plights his nuptial vow;
[Canna. l. 39. Cane, or Indian Reed. One male and one female inhabit
each flower. It is brought from between the tropics to our hot-houses,
and bears a beautiful crimson flower; the seeds are used as shot by the
Indians, and are strung for prayer-beads in some catholic countries.]
The virtuous pair, in milder regions born,
Dread the rude blast of
Autumn's icy