WILD, OR NATIVE FLOWERS. 9 



Milton in his sonnet to Echo speaks of the " Violet embroidered 

 vale." 



Here are lines to early Violets after the manner of the old English 

 poet Herrick : — 



Children of sweetest birth, 

 Why do ye bend to earth 

 Eyes in whose deepest blue 

 Sees luu the diamond dew. 



Has not the early ray 



Yet kissed those tears away 



That fell with closing day ? 



Say do ye fear to meet 



The hail and driving sleet 



Which gloomy winter stern, 



Flings "from his snow-wreathed urn ? 



Or do ye fear the breeze, 



So sadly sighing thro' the trees. 



Will chill your fragrant flowers, 



'Ere April's silv'ry showers 



Have visited your b(3wers ? 



Why came ye till the Cuckoo's voice 



Bade hill and dale rejoice? 



Till Philomel with tender tdVie 



Waking the echoes lone, 



Bade woodland glades prolong 



Her sweetly tuneful song. 



Till Sky-lark blithe, and Linnet grey, 

 From fallow brown and meadow gay. 

 Pour forth their jocund roundelay. 

 Till Cowslips wan, and Dasies pied, 

 Broider the hillocks side ; 

 And opening Hawthorn buds are seen 

 Decking the hedge-row screen. ' 



What though the I'rimrose drest 



In her pure modest vest, 



Come rashly forth 



To brave the biting North. 



Did ye not see her fall 



Straight 'neath his snowy pall ? 



And heard ye not the West wind sigh 



Her requiem as he hurried by ? 



Go hide ye then till groves are green 



And April's clouded bow is seen. 



Till suns are bright, and skies are clear. 



And every flower that doth appear 



Proclaims the birthday of the year. — C./'. 7., Lahefieut 



