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Stothard

Pub by E&S Harding Pall Mall Oct 20

FABLE VI.

THE QUEEN OF THE MEADOW AND THE

CROWN IMPERIAL.

FROM BACTRIA's vales, where beauty blows
Luxuriant in the genial ray;

Where flowers a bolder gem disclose,

And deeper drink the golden day:

From BACTRIA's vales to BRITAIN's shore

What time the CROWN IMPERIAL came,

Full high the stately stranger bore

The honours of his birth and name.

In all the pomp of eastern state,
In all the eastern glory gay,
He bade, with native pride elate,
Each flower of humbler birth obey.

O, that the child unborn might hear,
Nor hold it strange in distant time,
That freedom even to flowers was dear,

To flowers that bloomed in Britain's clime!

Through purple meads, and spicy gales, Where STRYMON's* silver waters play, While far from hence their goddess dwells, She rules with delegated sway.

The Ionian Strymon.

That sway the CROWN IMPERIAL sought,
With high demand and haughty mien:
But equal claim a rival brought,

A rival called the MEADOW'S QUEEN.

"In climes of orient glory born,

"Where beauty first and empire grew; "Where first unfolds the golden morn, "Where richer falls the fragrant dew:

"In light's ethereal beauty drest,

"Behold," he cried, "the favoured flower, "Which FLORA's high commands invest "With ensigns of imperial power!

"Where prostrate vales, and blushing meads, "And bending mountains own his sway, "While PERSIA's lord his empire leads, 'And bids the trembling world obey:

E

From BACTRIA's vales to BRITAIN'S shore

What time the CROWN IMPERIAL came,

Full high the stately stranger bore

The honours of his birth and name.

In all the pomp of eastern state,
In all the eastern glory gay,
He bade, with native pride elate,
Each flower of humbler birth obey.

O, that the child unborn might hear,
Nor hold it strange in distant time,
That freedom even to flowers was dear,
To flowers that bloomed in Britain's clime!

Through purple meads, and spicy gales, Where STRYMON's silver waters play, While far from hence their goddess dwells, She rules with delegated sway.

The Ionian Strymon.

That sway the CROWN IMPERIAL sought,
With high demand and haughty mien:
But equal claim a rival brought,

A rival called the MEADOW'S QUEEN.

"In climes of orient glory born,

"Where beauty first and empire grew; "Where first unfolds the golden morn, "Where richer falls the fragrant dew:

"In light's ethereal beauty drest,

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Behold," he cried, "the favoured flower, "Which FLORA's high commands invest "With ensigns of imperial power!

"Where prostrate vales, and blushing meads, "And bending mountains own his sway,

"While PERSIA's lord his empire leads,

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