FABLES OF FLOWERS,
FOR THE FEMALE SEX.
WITH
ZEPHYRUS and FLORA,
A VISION.

WRITTEN FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF

HER HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS ROYAL

BY THE AUTHOR OF THE CHOICE EMBLEMS, &C. &C.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR GEORGE RILEY, BOOKSELLER,
IN CURZON-STREET, MAY-FAIR.

AND SOLD BY
JOHN WILKIE, ST. PAUL’S-CHURCH-YARD.
MDCCLXXIII.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LADY CHARLOTTE FINCH.

THESE NEW FABLES
WRITTEN FOR THE AMUSEMENT

OF

HER HIGHNESS,

CHARLOTTE,

PRINCESS ROYAL OF ENGLAND.

• ARE MOST HUMBLY DEDICATED BY
• HER LADYSHIP’S
• MOST HUMBLE
• AND OBEDIENT SERVANT,
• THE AUTHOR.

WhenI survey the divine simplicity and blooming attractions, that aredisplayed amongst the variegated tribes of the vegetable creation, Icease to wonder, that Queens forego, for a while, the compliments ofa nation, or withdraw from the glitter of a court, tobe attended with the more splendid equipage of abed of flowers;where nothing seems wanting but the power of speech, to makethem become the most pleasing Monitors.

[Pg viii]How far the Author of the following Fables, written for the amusementof an exalted Personage, may have succeeded, in descriptive fancy, asa poet: it is hoped, that, the moral and refined admonitions which maybe found to breathe, from the fragrant bosom of a silver-robed Lily, ora blooming Jonquil, will throw a veil over any poetical inaccuracies;for who can paint like Nature?

As to the novelty of the plan, I cannot but hold myself, in a great[Pg ix]measure, indebted to an ingenious Lady[1], well known in the literaryworld. And can only say, that I have found both health and recreationin the completion of it; by sharing some of the sweetest hours ofcontemplation, among the lovely subjects of the following pages.

THE AUTHOR.