COWSLIP. 85 



The flowery May, who from her green lap throwi 

 The yellow Cowslip and the pale Primrose. 



M 1 1. T M . 



This is the time when the village children remind 



us of the ancient games of Flora— 



Now let us garlands -weave 

 Of all the fairest flow'rs, 

 Now at this early dawn. 



AXDREINI. 



equal meed receive : 



At most such garlands from the field 

 As Cowslips, Pinks, and Pansies yield, 

 And rural hands can weave. 



Siiexstoxe. 



It is impossible for the most refined imagination 

 to form a more delightful idea than Shakspeare has 

 connected with this flower, in making Ariel sing 

 in her freedom — 



"Where the hee sucks, there lurk I ; 



In a Cowslip's hell I lie : 



There I couch when owls do cry. 



Tempest. 



Our poet also celebrates this flower in his Mid- 

 summer Night's Dream, where, in a few lines, he 

 makes it subservient to the Queen of the Fairies, 

 describes the character of the corolla, and alludes 

 to the institution of tall military courtiers which 

 were pensioned by Queen Elizabeth. 



And I serve the fairy queen, 

 To dew her orhs upon the green : 

 The Cowslips tall her pensioners he ; 

 In their gold coats spots you see ; 



