MAY. 



149 



the floral sympathies that many remarkable men have 

 shown for particular flowers; this, perhaps, as a 

 modern writer has remarked, revealing the character 

 in the preference indicated. SHAKSPEARE'S ever ver- 

 nal mind seems to have rejoiced principally in spring 

 flowers, and hence he reverts to them more than 

 others ; especially does he praise the Violet as 

 " stealing and giving odour," as he himself could as 

 readily take an idea as originate one. CHAUCER 

 appears to have been quite enamoured of the Daisy, 

 for its regular closing and re-opening, symbolical of 

 "fear of night" and resurrection unto life, seems quite 

 to have been in unison with his old-life ideas. 



" Of all the floures in the mede, 



Than love I most these floures white and rede, 

 Such that men callen daisies in our town : 

 To them I have so great affeciioun, 

 As I sayd erst, when comen in the Maie, 

 That in my bedde there daweth me no daie, 

 That I nam up, and walking in the mede 

 To seen this floure ayenst the sunne sprede, 

 When it upriseth early by the morrow, 

 That blissful sight softeneth my sorrow." 



BURNS could not help celebrating the "wee modest 

 crimson- tipped flower," but in accordance with his 

 gentle humanity mourns its destruction by his plough- 

 share, while MONTGOMERY hails it as indicative of the 

 poet's ever observant thoughtfulness "the daisy 

 never dies." WALTER SCOTT has mentioned the 

 Wall-flower in connection with happy hours and his 

 antiquarian pursuits ; and the pensive BERNARD BAR- 

 TON marks its golden hue upon old shrines "with 

 fascination to the heart addressed." WORDSWORTH 

 philosophizing among lakes and mountains, has seized 



