210 PHEASANT'S EYE. 



There poppies white, and violets, 

 Alcippus on the altar sets 

 Of quiet sleep ; and weaves a crown 

 To bring the gentle godhead down. 



FRACASTOEO. 



THE PHEASANT'S EYE; OR FLOS ADONIS. 



Adonis was killed by a boar when hunting. Venus, 

 who had quitted the pleasures of Cythereus for his sake, 

 shed many tears at his melancholy fate. The fable tells 

 us that these were not lost, but mingling with the blood 

 of Adonis, the earth received them, and forthwith sprang 

 up a light plant covered with purple flowers. Brilliant and 

 transient flowers ; alas ! too faithful emblems of the plea- 

 sures of life ! you were consecrated by the same beauty 

 as the symbol of sorrowful remembrances. 



Look, in the garden blooms the flos adonis. 

 And memory keeps of him who rashly died, 

 Thereafter changed by Venus, weeping, to this flower. 



ANON. 



Py this the boy, that by her side lay kill'd. 

 Was melted like a vapour from her sight; 

 And in his blood, that on the ground lay spill'd, 

 A purple flower sprang up, chequer'd with white. 



SHAKSPEARB. 



