At dawn poor Stella danced and sung,

The amorous youth around her bow’d:

At night her fatal knell was rung;

I saw and kiss’d her in her shroud.

Such as she is, who died to-day,

Such I, alas! may be to-morrow;

Go, Damon, bid the Muse display

The justice of thy Chloe’s sorrow.

Matthew Prior, 1664–1721.

TO PRIMROSES