THE FAIRY, THE ROSE, AND THE NIGHTINGALE; A FABLE by ROYALL TYLER

A ROSE while yet 'twas early morn,
Was glowing on her dewy thorn.
The smallest of the elfin kind
That thro' the garden flowers wind,
Beheld where, like another day,
She op'd in morning on the spray,
Amid her orient leaflets flew,
And sipt his fill of scented dew;
"Sweet blossom," then he softly cry'd,
With voice that mid the petals died,
"Sweet blossom, for this draught divine,
Some splendid present shall be thine,
Thou art so fair all flowers before,
That 'twould be vain to deck thee more,
But when the shades of night appear,
To blend the ugly and the fair,
That thy bright charms may still be seen,
And thou still reign of flowers the queen,
My lamp I'll bring, the glow-worm bright,
And hang amid thy leaves its light."
The rose receiv'd, with modest bend,
The promise of her fairy friend,
Who brought at twilight's tranquil hour
The lanthorn of her little bower,
That threw its threadlike beams around,
And shed a radiance on the ground;
A Nightingale, who warbled nigh,
'Midst darksome boughs, with greedy eye
Beheld the glitt'ring prize that hung
With diamond light her leaves among,
And straight in lays that lull'd the grove,
Caroll'd a tender tale of love.
Soft flower, her breast withstands not long
The varying music of his song;
But soon what pangs assail'd that breast!
For scarce the nuptial kiss he prest,
But tore from its supporting spray,
The Fairy's gift, and hopt away.
O Rose, it was thy lot to prove
The lowest Vice may feign like Love,
Nor is it such sorrow thine alone;
Full many a maid thy fate has known,
Whom fortune (by the hand of heaven,
With unveiled eyes a moment given,
Her blind-groped favourites to behold)
Has lent the gorgeous light of gold,
That virtue's charms with beauty join'd
Might wide be seen and win mankind;
But ah! that light's resplendent dawn,
Interest the heartless slave has drawn,
Who sings Love's soul-enthralling lay,
So to revel in the golden ray.

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