FLORA AND THALIA. 185 



THE CHILD AND FLOWERS. 



Hast thou been in the woods with the honey-bee 1 

 Hast thou been with the lamb in the pastures free 1 

 With the hare through the copses and dingles wild 1 

 With the butterfly over the heath, fair child l 

 Yes ; the light fall of thy bounding feet 

 Hath not startled the wren from her mossy seat ; 

 Yet hast thou rang'd the green forest dells, 

 And brought back a treasure of buds and bells. 



Thou know'st not the sweetness, by antique song, 

 Breath'd o'er the names of that flow'ry throng : 

 The woodbine, the primrose, the violet dim. 

 The lily that gleams by the ft)untain's brim : 

 These are old words, that have made each grove 

 A dreamy haunt for romance and love ; 

 Each sunny bank, where faint odours lie, 

 A place for the gushings of poesy. 



Thou know'st not the light wherewith fairy lore 

 Sprinkles the turf and the daisies o'er. 

 Enough for thee are the dews that sleep. 

 Like hidden gems in the flower-nrns deep ; 

 Enough the rich crimson spots that dwell 

 'Midst the gold of the cowslip's perfumed cell ; 

 And the scent by the blossoming sweetbriars shed, 

 And the beauty that bows the wood-hyacinth's head. 

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