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Households and Hegemony
Households
and Hegemony
Early Creek Prestige Goods, Symbolic Capital,
and Social Power | c a m e ro n b . w e s s o n
u n i v e rs i t y o f n e b r a s k a p r e s s | l i n c o l n & l o n d o n
 © 2008 by the Board of Regents
of the University of Nebraska
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the
United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-

in-Publication Data
Wesson, Cameron B., 1968–
Households and hegemony : early
Creek prestige goods, symbolic
capital, and social power /
Cameron B. Wesson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references
and index.
isbn 978-0-8032-4795-6 (cloth :
alk. paper)
1. Creek Indians—Alabama—Social
life and customs. 2. Creek Indians—
Alabama—Politics and government.
3. Indians of North America—First
contact with Europeans—Alabama.
4. Households—Alabama—History.
5. Excavations (Archaeology)—Ala-
bama. 6. Alabama—Antiquities.
I. Title.
e99.c9w47 2008
976.1004'97385—dc22
2007047069

Some images have been masked due to copyright limitations.

Dedicated to the Creek peoples,
past, present, and future.
Having long seen cultures and societies as isolated and distinc-
tive, we must learn to see them in interchange and cultural syn-
thesis. Having learned to visualize cultural boundaries as fixed
and stationary, we must now learn to see them as shifting and
evanescent. We have stressed order, equilibrium, negative feed-
back; now we must come to terms with opposition, contradic-
tion, conflict, rebellion, and revolution. We have laid great stress
upon the human capacity to adapt; now we need to emphasize
as well their considerable capacity to create. Human beings are
not merely “broken upon the wheel of culture,” to serve lifetime
sentences at forced labor in meeting the functional prerequisites
of their cultures. They also seek the Golden Fleece, and wrest fire
from the Olympian gods. We have learned a good deal; but there
is still more to learn—and to learn it, we must first rethink the
categories of our thought and practice.
—wo l f, 1974:xii
 Contents

List of Illustrations | viii

Acknowledgments | xi
Introduction | xiii
1. Social Agents, Hegemony, and Households | 1
2. The Creek Social Universe | 22
3. Creek-European Interactions | 58
4. Changing Creek Households | 89
Conclusions | 125
Appendix of Tables | 163
Bibliography | 171
Index | 223
 Illustrations

Figures
1. Creek cosmos represented in architectural form | 47
2. The Creek council house | 49
3. The Creek sacred square | 52
4. The Creek ballfield and sacred pole | 54
5. Regional chronology for the Tallapoosa River valley | 62
6. Central portion of Fusihatchee village excavations | 98
7. Examples of domestic architectural remains from
Hickory Ground | 100
8. Blackmon Phase structure from the Jackson site | 102
9. Burials receiving goods by phase | 109
10. Prestige goods by phase | 110
11. Hoarding of prestige goods | 111
12. Mean storage feature size | 113
13. Atasi Phase and Tallapoosa Phase storage features | 114
14. Boxplot of Atasi Phase and Tallapoosa Phase storage
features | 115
15. Examples of Atasi Phase domestic structures at
Fusihatchee | 116
16. The King site (9f15) | 118
17. Examples of Tallapoosa Phase domestic structures at
Fusihatchee | 119
18. Mean domestic structure size | 122
19. Boxplot of Atasi Phase and Tallapoosa Phase domestic
structures | 123
20. Bartram’s prehistoric Creek town plan | 146
21. Bartram’s historic Creek town plan | 148
 Maps
1. Locations of the Upper and Lower Creeks | xxi
2. Historic Creek towns in the lower Tallapoosa River valley
of central Alabama | xxvii
3. Mississippian polities in the research area at the time of
European contact | 31
4. Routes of early southeastern explorers | 67
5. Archaeological sites used in this study | 96
 Ac k n ow l e d g m e n t s

This work represents more than a decade of archaeological

field research, laboratory analysis, and writing. During this time I
have been the beneficiary of innumerable acts of personal kindness
and professional courtesy. I wish to acknowledge the particular con-
tributions of Craig Sheldon, R. Barry Lewis, David Grove, Helaine
Silverman, F. K. Lehman, Susan Gillespie, Greg Waselkov, William
Kelleher, and Ross Hassig. These scholars provided the intellectual
stimulation that underlies these efforts, and I gratefully acknowledge
their numerous acts of personal and professional assistance.
I remain particularly indebted to John W. Cottier for encouraging
my interests in archaeology and for his many years of unwavering
professional and personal support. Together with Craig Sheldon,
John allowed me to share equally in field research at Fusihatchee
(1ee191) and encouraged my development from an inexperienced
undergraduate field school student to my present position as an as-
sociate professor of anthropology. This book would never have ma-
terialized without John’s influence and support.
I was also the recipient of grants for research and writing from
several institutions during the completion of this work, including the
departments of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Chicago,
the University of Oklahoma, the University of Illinois at Urbana–
Champaign, Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgom-
ery, and the Center for the Study of Cultural Values and Ethics at
the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. I am also indebted
xii | Acknowledgments

to Gary Dunham and the entire University of Nebraska Press fam-

ily for pursuing the publication of this book and patiently await-
ing its final preparation. I have special appreciation for my copy-
editor, Ann Harrington, who worked overtime to ensure that my
thoughts were as clearly presented as possible. I would also like to
acknowledge the helpful comments of David G. Anderson and an
anonymous reviewer on an earlier version of this volume.
I consider myself fortunate to have profited from the insights of
many additional colleagues, reviewers, and friends throughout the
process leading to the production of this book. Of particular note
is the support of my family during the often-trying days in which
this work was undertaken. I appreciate the considerable sacrifices
and support provided to me by Paul, Linda, Paul David, and Char-
donna. Although my efforts have benefited immeasurably from the
input and encouragement of these individuals and institutions, any
errors, omissions, and limitations of this work remain entirely my
responsibility.
 I n t ro d u c t i o n

The arrival of Europeans in southeastern North America

in the sixteenth century heralded profound cultural transformations
for the indigenous peoples of the region. Prior to European con-
tacts the Southeast was home to a number of geographically expan-
sive and sociopolitically complex Native American societies (Brose
2001). These societies were governed by hereditary chiefly elites
who exercised considerable sociopolitical powers, resided in large
houses placed atop earthen mounds, controlled the production and
exchange of foodstuffs and high-status prestige goods, commanded
large armies, expanded their polities both geographically and po-
litically, and enjoyed a variety of additional indulgences (Clayton
et al. 1993; Smith and Hally 1992). The most powerful of these
elites is thought to have ruled a polity extending over two hundred
miles along major river systems in the present states of Georgia,
Tennessee, and Alabama (DePratter et al. 1983; Hally et al. 1990;
Hudson et al. 1985, 1987, 1989; Smith 2000). Within decades of
contact with Europeans these same societies are described as disin-
tegrated and politically acephalous (Corkran 1967; DePratter et al.
1983; Mason 1963a, 1963b; Mereness 1916; Smith 1987; Swan-
ton 1928a:279–280). Where precontact elites exercised consider-
able sociopolitical power, those of the postcontact period are seen
as almost completely devoid of centralized authority.
The factors most commonly cited for this decline in indigenous
sociopolitical organization are disease (Baker and Kealhofer, eds.
xiv | Introduction

1996; Dobyns 1983, 1991; Larsen and Milner 1994; Ramenofsky

1987; Smith 1987; Thomas 1989, 1990, 1991) and trade (Braund
1993; Fairbanks 1952; Martin 1978; Mason 1963a, 1963b; Mor-
ris 1993; Saunt 1999), with disease holding a particularly promi-
nent position in explanations of postcontact Native American cul-
ture change. Several studies estimate the epidemiological impacts
of these European-introduced diseases at more than 80 percent
(Dobyns 1983; Ramenofsky 1987; c.f. Henige 1998). Marvin Smith
(1987:145) proposes that the decline in indigenous sociopolitical
organization in the Southeast “corresponds almost exactly with
the evidence for depopulation.” Faced with such dramatic popula-
tion declines these societies are thought by some scholars to have
lacked the labor necessary to produce agricultural surpluses, con-
struct monumental earthen structures, or engage in wars of politi-
cal expansion—characteristics traditionally seen by archaeologists
as representative of hierarchical social organization (Carniero 1981;
Earle 1991; Feinman and Neitzel 1984; Peebles and Kus 1977; Sah-
lins 1963; Service 1962).
This process of sociopolitical decline is thought to have been ex-
acerbated by Native American participation in trade with Europe-
ans. Most studies addressing the impacts of trade (almost all devel-
oped within functional-materialist theoretical frameworks) contend
that the technological superiority of European goods made them
unavoidably attractive to Native Americans (Cotterill 1954; Crane
1928; Fairbanks 1952, 1958; Mason 1963b; Morris 1999; Willey
1953). As Martin (1978:8) states, “European hardware and other
trade items were immediately perceived by the Stone Age Indian as
being far superior in their utility to his primitive technology and
general material culture.” Such perspectives have led many schol-
ars to discuss European trade goods themselves in terms usually
reserved for human beings (Knight 1985:169–170), with Native
Americans viewed as powerless to resist the temptation of European
material items (e.g., Morris 1999). Ultimately an image emerges
of Native Americans lacking the ability to shape social phenom-
ena, beset by forces outside their control or comprehension (Trig-
ger 1980, 1982).
Exploring the Variety of Random
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 “When I dispute the field.

VI.
“Far hence your tinsel trappings bear
“To some luxuriant bed,
“Where, nurs’d by Zephyr’s wanton gales,
“Their idle bloom may spread!

VII.
“In me behold the warrior’s grace,
“And monarch’s pow’r display’d;
“In me, to Heav’n itself ally’d,
“In martial pomp array’d.

VIII.
“Emblem of thund’ring Mars I rise,
“My boast and offspring too;
“Then own the progeny divine,
“And pay the tribute due.”

IX.
The Myrtle heard;—fair Venus’ care,
With peaceful honours crown’d;
The glory of the genial hour,
By lovers still renown’d.

X.
“And how! said she, redoubted knight,
“Would’st thou with us engage?
“Did ever Mars, of glory vain,
“Rough wars with Venus wage?

XI.
“Her flow’r I am; her name I boast,
“Who can mankind subdue;
“And by a gentler method far
“Than any known to you.
 XII.
“Say, boaster, what are realms destroy’d
“By many a foughten field;
“When desp’rate battles, bravely won,
“A bloody harvest yield?

XIII.
“Can these atone the dreadful ills
“That wasteful wars supply;
“When from the horrid din of arms
“The Loves and Graces fly?

XIV.
“Remember, when the blue-ey’d Maid
“With Neptune did contend:
“Say, who the greatest gift produc’d;
“And let our contest end.

XV.
“The Palm to Pallas was decreed,
“Who nam’d fair Athens; there
“The warlike steed, great Neptune’s boast,
“Yields to the Olive fair.

XVI.
“Then thou, proud Knight, exult no more,
“Abase thy haughty crest;
“Give honour due to meek-ey’d Peace,
“And Love, her genial guest.”

XVII.
Let then great Mars his Pow’r resign
To brighter Venus’ fame;
And quit the glories of the field,
When Love disputes the claim.
 FABLE XVI.
The POPPY and the SUN-FLOWER.

I.

TRANSPLANTED from the neighb’ring mead,

Which long her presence grac’d;
The crimson Poppy rear’d her head,
In the rich garden plac’d.

II.
Thence, fann’d by many a gentle gale,
Full oft her scent is borne;
Both when the ev’ning shades prevail,
And at the rise of morn.

III.
At noon, when ev’n without her aid
The flow’rs all droop’d around;
Clytie, bright Phœbus’ love-sick maid,
With all his glories crown’d,

IV.
Still turning to his orb her face,
Survey’d th’ intruding guest;
And, foe to ev’ry sleepy pow’r,
The stranger thus address’d;

V.
“Long have we seen each field-flow’r bloom
“Our cultur’d gardens shame:
“Which, hither brought, triumphant rise,
 “And share our nobler fame:

VI.
“Thou, drowsy Poppy, too, at last,
“Our rival dost appear,
“Replete with drugs, whose pois’nous strength
“Corrupts the ambient air.

VII.
“But think not here, insulting weed!
“(Fair Ceres’ hate and bane)
“Thy drowsy magic shall prevail,
“To blot our brighter reign.

VIII.
“Go, seek thy fields; with noxious weeds
“Divide detested sway:
“Or, where thy slumbers nought disturb,
“Shun the glad face of day.

IX.
“Whilst I, to Phœbus ever true,
“Rejoicing in his light;
“To the great God his tribute pay,
“And check the pow’rs of Night.”

X.
She spoke;—The nodding Poppy then,
Serene, made this reply:
“Proud flow’r, I envy not thy state,
“Nor coat of richest dye.

XI.
“What boast’st thou of his genial pow’r,
“Who slighted all thy charms;
“And, in thy beauty’s brightest noon,
“Fled to another’s arms?
 XII.
“How didst thou mourn, and how revenge?
“Leucothoe[18] speaks thy crime;
“Whose odours still to Heav’n ascend,
“And shall to latest time.

XIII.
“Not Love, but Pity, mov’d high Heav’n
“To make thee what thou art;
“And place amidst the blooming flow’rs
“A Nymph with broken heart.

XIV.
“Cease then to vaunt thy heav’nly love,
“Nor me so much despise;
“Full plain th’ advantages appear,
“Which from my pow’r arise.

XV.
“Me Ceres hates not; but my seed
“Great Nature near her sows;
“Where, far unlike a noxious weed,
“The beauteous flow’ret blows.

XVI.
“Sleep, gentle God, the ease of grief,
“To weary man I bring;
“From care and pain the sweetest balm,
“Of vig’rous health the spring.

XVII.
“I, to the wretched friendly still,
“The mourning captives aid;
“My succour to the poor extend,
“And ease the love-sick maid.
 XVIII.
“Then what Heav’n order’d for the best,
“Do thou no longer blame:
“Let me old Morpheus’ honours share,
“Joy thou in Phœbus’ flame.

XIX.
“More need I add?—Search Earth around,
“And thou shalt truly say,
“More Virtues in Life’s shade will bloom,
“Than in her blaze of day.”
 Fab. XVII.

The Iris & Rose

Fab. XVIII.
The Nasturtium & Wall flower
 FABLE XVII.
The IRIS, or FLOWER de LUCE,
and the ROSE.

I.

YES, there are some who, proudly vain

Still boast of others’ due;
With empty titles cheat the crowd,
And set false shows to view.

II.
Such ever ancient worth disgrace,
Make real titles scorn’d;
While by bright Honour’s genuine race
Those titles are adorn’d.

III.
The fairest of sweet Flora’s tribe
Boast not the proudest name;
Nor men, with gaudiest titles deck’d,
Are truest sons of Fame.

IV.
What art thou, bold and spreading flow’r,
In fields and gardens known;
That still assum’st a Monarch’s grace,
And claim’st a Pageant throne?

V.
“Genius of nations, guardian pow’rs,
 “That still on Monarchs wait!
“You your own plant shall still protect,
“An emblem of your state.

VI.
“And, Goddess of the painted Bow!
“Still to thy flow’r prove true;
“Ally’d to thee, I justly claim
“Thy name and colours too[19].

VII.
“Which then of all the painted train
“That swell this garden’s pride,
“Shall with my honour’d name compare,
“Or sway with me divide?”

VIII.
This mark’d the Rose, a modest flow’r,
With maiden blushes bright;
Who, vex’d to hear the boaster’s vaunt,
Asserts her native right.

IX.
“What are thy titles vain, she said,
“That claim superior sway?
“Or why should all fair Flora’s tribes
“A rule like thine obey?

X.
“False is thy boast; thy title vain
“Not Gallia’s self will own;
“Whose real Lilies droop and fade,
“Where-e’er my flow’rs are known.

XI.
“Why Iris?—Why by Heav’n’s own bow
 “Would’st thou thus climb to fame?
“Or cannot many a vary’d flow’r
“Exert a fairer claim?

XII.
“Plain Flag thou art;—let that suffice;
“With Lilies I contend;
“But flow’rs like thine I still regard,
“Alike as foe or friend.”

XIII.
The vain pretender heard, abash’d,
And hung her drooping head;
While to the genial fun her leaves
The Rose expanding spread.

XIV.
Her odour strait proclaim’d her queen
Of all the smiling flow’rs;
While the Bee sought the fragrant breast,
And left his honey’d bow’rs.

XV.
Thus to the Rose the meed was giv’n;
Flora confirm’d her reign;
And worth, like her’s, approv’d by Heav’n,
Shall Heav’n itself maintain.
 FABLE XVIII.
The NASTURTIUM and the
WALL FLOWER.

I.

AGAINST a funny fence below

The fair Nasturtium plac’d,
Beheld how well its highest tops
The fragrant Wall-flow’r grac’d.

II.
Without some useful kind support
Unable to survive;
Ill could she bear another flow’r
By the same means should thrive.

III.
At length, one sultry summer’s noon,
When radiant Phœbus shone
On both alike with chearing ray,
She envious thus begun:

IV.
“Had I the Wall-flow’r’s fragrant scent,
“Would I alone thus bloom;
“On yonder peak obscurely dwell,
“And waste my rich perfume!

V.
“For shame, yield to inferior flow’rs
 “That strange and uncouth place;
“Nor, like some noxious worthless weed,
“Nurse there thy beauteous race.

VI.
“Besides, I claim the humbler boon,
“Against this fence to blow;
“While thee the more indulgent Heav’n
“May safely place below.”

VII.
She spoke;—the Wall-flow’r thus reply’d,
“Ambition is not mine;
“My native place is still my joy:
“Do thou delight in thine.

VIII.
“Full well I know that perils still
“On frequent change attend:
“And they oft spoil their present state,
“Who hasty strive to mend.

IX.
“Nor less can I thy drift observe,
“Who, envious of my lot,
“Would’st me of ev’ry help bereave,
“Drawn from my native spot.

X.
“Too selfish flow’r, who vainly this
“Would’st me of life deprive;
“And by my downfall think’st to rise,
“And on my ruin thrive.

XI.
“Know, that th’ all-chearing lamp of day
“On both alike bestows
“His sov’reign gifts; for All his light
“Without distinction glows.

XII.
“Is not that source of genial fire
“Sufficient both to warm,
“That thou should’st thus unkindly seek
“Thy quiet neighbour’s harm?

XIII.
“And what if I consenting give,
“Ambitious! thy desire?
“Were I now low in ashes laid,
“Say, could’st thou climb the higher?

XIV.
“For shame, th’ ungen’rous wish forego,
“Rejoice in others’ joy;
“And lengthen’d scenes of double bliss
“Shall all thy hours employ.

XV.
“For know, where Envy’s pow’r prevails,
“Peace, Love, and Joy, retire:
“Her vot’ries feel eternal pains,
“And burn with ceaseless fire.”

XVI.
Felicity with Concord dwells;
And ev’ry joy of peace
Heav’n’s sacred hand still bounteous gives,
And blesses the increase.
 Fab. XIX.

The Lapland Rose.

Fab. XX.
The Deadly Nightshade.
 FABLE XIX.
THE LAPLAND ROSE.

I.

A wand’ring youth, by Fortune led

To bleakest northern shores,
Beyond the track of Russian wilds,
Where Lapland’s tempest roars;

II.
Who twice the Arctic circle pass’d,
And view’d bright Hecla’s[20] flame;
At length, through many a waste of snow,
To fair Niemi[21] came.

III.
And thence where Tenglio[22] rolls his stream,
Survey’d the prospect round;
Beheld its banks with verdure deck’d,
And blushing roses crown’d.

IV.
Stuck with the scene, a while he paus’d,
As lost in sweet delight;
And ey’d the fairest of the train
In native beauty bright.

V.
Yet, as he view’d the stranger flow’r,
He deeply musing cries,
“How strange that beauties such as thine
 “’Midst climes like these should rise!

VI.
“Thee no bright youth nor gentle fair
“Alas! shall e’er caress;
“Nor splendid southern suns shall warm,
“Nor genial gales shall bless!”

VII.
On hollow winds, o’er distant plains,
The murm’ring accents flew;
Niemi’s mountains caught the sound,
Which from the lake his shadows drew.

VIII.
And now before the youth confess’d
The Genius of the clime
Appear’d; who thus instructive spoke,
In awful strains sublime;

IX.
“Fond youth, who view’st that beauteous flow’r,
“So luckless in thy fight!
“Forbear to mourn her lonely state,
“Whom these rude climes delight.

X.
“Unrival’d here she sweetly blooms,
“And scents the ambient air;
“Nor deems her brightest beauties lost,
“While foster’d by my care.

XI.
“Nor envies she the gaudy tribe
“Beneath the southern skies,
“That bloom in some luxurious bow’rs,
“Where mingled sweets arise.
 XII.
“The child of bounteous Nature! here
“She bids her bloom dispense
“Fresh sweets, the trav’ler’s soul to chear,
“And glad his weary’d sense.

XIII.
“Her no bright youth nor gaudy fair
“Shall court but to destroy;
“But Lapland’s simple swains shall view,
“With unaffected joy;

XIV.
“And, oft’ as yon’ returning Sun
“Illumes our northern sphere,
“Well pleas’d shall trace these flow’ry banks,
“And pay their homage here.

XV.
“Let others seek where spacious meads,
“Or painted gardens glow;
“Despise my solitary flow’rs,
“And live the slaves of show.

XVI.
“But know, high Heav’n in desart wastes
“Can bid rich Spring to bloom;
“And waken Nature into life,
“From Winter’s dreary tomb.

XVII.
“The gracious Pow’r who rules on high,
“Bids all his blessings share;
“And ev’ry creature of his hand
“Is govern’d by his care.

XVIII.
“Convinc’d that Providence will thus
“For all alike provide;
“Learn to restrain Affliction’s tears,
“And check the boast of Pride.”
 FABLE XX.
The DEADLY NIGHTSHADE[23].

I.
“
DETESTED weed, enrag’d, I said,
“That spread’st thy poison’d train
“In this fair land, midst blooming flow’rs,
“Which grace the happy plain!

II.
“Thy baleful root most surely springs
“From deep Tartarean shade;
“By envious Dæmons nurs’d below,
“In Stygian gloom array’d.

III.
“Thee Circe, and Medæa too,
“In black enchantment us’d;
“With baneful plants most fitly mix’d,
“In hellish steams suffus’d.

IV.
“Ah! why does Parent Nature form,
“Such works, her works to spoil;
“And by her own hand teach mankind,
“Infernal arts and guile?

V.
“Say, fell Enchantress of the plain,
“The foe of human-kind?
“Say for what crimes man’s hapless race
 “From thee such evils find!

VI.
“Oh! quit the woods, the plains, the fields,
“Where health and plenty bloom:
“Retire to rocks and desart-wilds,
“Or shade the Murd’rer’s tomb.

VII.
“Or rather haste to Pluto’s realm;
“There hide thy hated head,
“And flourish still unrival’d there;
“Where Styx’ nine streams are spread.

VIII.
“But here may ev’ry healing flow’r
“In prime of beauty bloom:
“To sick’ning Man restoring health,
“And shedding rich perfume!”

IX.
I ceas’d—The Flow’r indignant heard;
And all its leaves display’d
A deep’ning gloom, which flung around
A double night of shade.

X.
“Insulting Man!” she trembling cry’d,
“Of creatures most unjust;
“Still taxing Nature with those faults,
“Sprung from his evil lust.

XI.
“The poison’d Snake, the noxious Weed,
“Earth’s venom’d juices drain;
“And, more than all yon’ fragrant flow’rs,
“Enrich with health the plain.
 XII.
“Nay of my race grows many a plant,
“Which, of rich gifts possest,
“The sage Physician culls with care,
“To ease the Patient’s breast.

XIII.
“Let Man his own wild passions tame,
“And hush them into Peace;
“Medæa’s wand, and Circe’s cup,
“Were innocent to these.

XIV.
“For me, great Nature’s high behest;
“Contented I fulfil;
“Nor dream that aught by her ordain’d,
“Can ever end in ill.

XV.
“Go thou, fond youth, and Virtue’s charge
“With equal care obey:
“Then ev’ry Weed shall prove a Flow’r,
“To strew thy destin’d way.”
 Fab. XXI.

The Crown Imperial and

Heartsease.

Fab. XXII.
The Water Lily.
 FABLE XXI.
The CROWN IMPERIAL
and HEART’S-EASE.

I.

LO! where from Persia’s warmer clime,

And ancient Bactria’s land;
With interwoven purple wrought,
The ensign of command,

II.
The Crown Imperial rears aloft
His rich and gorgeous head,
And, pointing to the distant sky,
Bids all his glories spread.

III.
Beneath, in humbler station plac’d,
The fair Viola grew,
Which the lov’d name of Heart’s-Ease bears,
Whose pow’r can Care subdue.

IV.
The purple monarch swell’d with ire,
Indignant to behold
The flow’ret blooming near his side,
And thus his anger told;

V.
“Rash flow’r, seest thou my aweful state,
 “That speaks the garden’s king?
“See’st thou th’ Imperial Crown that decks,
“And gems that round me spring.

VI.
“I from the East my lineage draw,
“Where chief of flow’rs I rise;
“And amidst thousands raise my fame,
“Ev’n to the starry skies.

VII.
“Go then, base daughter of the earth!
“Near some vile cottage grow;
“Nor give thy paltry race to rise
“Where my bright blossoms blow!”

VIII.
The sweet Viola inly mourn’d
The boaster’s ill-plac’d pride;
And, while this answer she return’d,
The flow’r with pity ey’d:

IX.
“Great is the boast, I own, she said,
“Of pomp and scepter’d pow’r;
“But greater are the blessings found
“In life’s serener hour.

X.
“Thee purple honours still adorn,
“Which teach thy leaves to shine;
“But to breathe fragrance on the day,
“Proud plant! was never thine.

XI.
“That I am stranger to thy race,
“The cause is plain to tell;
“For when did Heart’s-Ease ever deign
“With crowned heads to dwell?

XII.
“Me still in life’s more humble vale
“Most certain will you find;
“There most my simple sweets are known,
“Where Fortune proves least kind.

XIII.
“Go learn, That neither wealth nor pomp
“True blessings can bestow;
“On sweet Content alone await
“All joy and bliss below.”
 FABLE XXII.
THE WATER LILY.

I.

WITHIN a crystal riv’let bright,

Whose sides, with verdure crown’d,
From shelving banks reflected wide
The landscape bord’ring round,

II.
A Water Lily peaceful rear’d
Her lovely, graceful head;
And on the gently-heaving stream
Her beauteous flow’rs were spread.

III.
Thence she beheld the banks with flow’rs
Of various kinds array’d;
And nodding trees, that far dispers’d
Their over-hanging shade;

IV.
For there the lofty Poplar grew,
Still mingling white with green;
And there the rustling Aspin too
With trembling leaves was seen.

V.
The Willow, nodding o’er the brook,
Drinks deep the stream below;
Cowslip and Primrose near at hand,
 And purple Iris glow.

VI.
The Lily saw, and to the lake
Thus soft-complaining cry’d,
While gentle Zephyrs bore the sound,
Which spread from side to side:

VII.
“Ah hapless lot! while others bloom
“On yonder happy shore,
“Amongst their kindred tribes—my fate
“Here lonely I deplore.

VIII.
“Condemn’d amid this watry waste
“For ever to remain;
“Nor taste the joys which others know
“On yonder flow’ry plain.”

IX.
The Goddess of the Water heard,
And Anger mov’d her heart;
“How dar’st thou thus affront (she said)
“The Pow’r by which thou art?

X.
“Those other trees and flow’rs thou see’st,
“All sprang from Mother Earth:
“And grateful tribute all return
“To Her who gave them birth.

XI.
“While thou, alas! should I withdraw
“The least of this my store;
“Shalt call on other Pow’rs in vain,
“And sink, to rise no more.
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