Nature
The Violet
From Poems, Chiefly Pastoral (1766)
Nature
Shelter'd from the blight ambition,
Fatal to the pride of rank,
See me in my low condition
Laughing on the tufted bank.
On my robes (for emulation)
No variety's imprest:
Suited to an humble station,
Mine's an unembroider'd vest.
Modest tho' the maids declare me,
MAY in her fantastic train,
When PASTORA deigns to wear me,
Ha'nt a flow'ret half so vain.
✦ ✦ ✦
Codex Note
Text from the Eighteenth Century Collections Online / ECCO-TCP transcription (TCP K093533), Poems, Chiefly Pastoral (1766).
Cite this poem
MLA
Cunningham, John. “The Violet.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cunningham_j/12/.
Chicago
Cunningham, John. “The Violet.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cunningham_j/12/.
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