Its glittering wreath of blood-red leaves;

But it pays not back the peasant’s cares;

No gold it wins, and no fruit it bears.

It may flaunt its glories on the breeze,

We have no time to waste on these;

Our’s is the Vine near whose goodly root

We seek, and find the jewelled fruit!

The wild-vine springs on the mountain’s crest,

By every wind are its leaves caress’d;

But it sickens soon in the garish ray