XXX PREFACE. 



Pallentes violas et summa papavera carpens, 

 Narcissum et florem jungit bene olentis anethi. 

 Tum casia, atque aliis intexens suavibus herbis, 

 Mollia luteolu pingit vaccinia caltha." 



Virgil, Eclogue 2. 



'' Behold the nymphs bring thee lilies in full baskets : for thee fair 

 Nais, cropping the pale violets and heads of poppies^ joins the nar- 

 cissus, and flower of sweet-smelling anise : then, interweaving them 

 with cassia and other fragrant herbs, sets off the soft hyacinth with 

 the saffron marygold." 



Davidson's Translation. 



Drayton runs riot on the subject : a nymph in his Muse's 

 Elysium says, 



" Here damask-roses, white and red. 

 Out of my lap first take I, 

 Which still shall run along the thread ; 

 My chiefest flower this make I. 

 Amongst these roses in a row. 

 Next place I pinks in plenty. 

 These double-daisies then for show. 

 And will not this be dainty ? 

 The pretty pansy then I' 11 tye 

 Like stones some chain inchasing ; 

 And next to them, their near ally. 

 The purple violet placing. 

 The curjous choice clove July-flower, 

 Whose kinds, hight the carnation. 

 For sweetness of most sovereign power 

 Shall help my wreath to fashion; 

 Whose sundry colours of one kind. 

 First from one root derived. 

 Them in their several suits I '11 bind. 

 My garland so contrived : 

 A course of cowslips then I '11 stick. 

 And here and there (though sparely) 

 The pleasant primrose down I '11 prick. 

 Like pearls which will show rarely ; 

 Then with these marygolds I '11 make 

 My garland somewhat swelling. 

 These honeysuckles then I '11 take. 

 Whose sweets shall help their smelling. 



