NARCISSUS. 267 



" All as a lily pressed with heavy rain. 



Which fills her cups with showers up to the brinks. 



The weary stalk no longer can sustain 



The head, but low beneath the burden sinks." 



P. Fletcher. 



They will thrive best in a south-eastern exposure, where 

 the morning sun may dry off the moisture which has lodged 

 upon them during the night ; and they will better preserve 

 their beauty there than in the shade, or in the scorching 

 heat of the afternoon sun. 



The poetical origin of this flower, and its own beauty, 

 have conspired to obtain for it the notice of some of the 

 greatest poets. The story told at length in Ovid's Meta- 

 morphoses, of the transformation of Narcissus into a flower, 

 is too well known to need, and too long to admit of, in- 

 sertion. 



The Naiades, lamenting the death of Narcissus, prepare 

 a funeral pile, but his body is missing : 



" Instead whereof a yellow flower was found. 

 With tufts of white about the button crown'd." 



Sandys's Ovid. 



" What first inspired a bard of old to sing 

 Narcissus pining o'er the untainted spring ? 

 In some delicious ramble he had found 

 A little space, with boughs all woven round ; 

 And in the midst thereof a clearer pool 

 Than e'er reflected in its pleasant cool 

 The blue sky here and there serenely peeping 

 Through tendril wreaths fantastically creeping. 

 And on the bank a lonely flower he spied, 

 A meek and forlorn flower with nought of pride. 

 Drooping its beauty o'er the watery clearness. 

 To woo its own sad image into nearness. 

 Deaf to light Zephyrus, it would not move ; 

 But still would seem to droop, to pine, to love. 

 So, while the poet stood in this sweet spot. 

 Some fainter gleamings o'er his fancy shot ; 

 Nor was it long ere he had told the tale 

 Of young Narcissus, and sad Echo's bale." 



Keats. 



