(BlXV Wild Flowers in their relations to 

 out Pastoral Life. 



A LECTURE 



READ TO THE 



MECHANICS' INSTITUTE OF BERWICK-UPON-TWEED 

 IN THE SPRING OF 1851. 



^ iSrelutJe of iHottoc^. 



' A meny time it is in May, 

 When springeth the summer's day. 

 And (lamisels carols leadeth. 

 On green wood fowls gredeth." — Romance of Merlin. 



' Who sawe evir so fep* or so glad a day, 

 And how sote this seson is entring into May ? 

 The thnisteUs and the thrushis, in this glad momyng, 

 The ruddok and the goldfynch ; but the nyghtingale 

 His amerous notis lo how he twATiith small ! 

 Lo how the trees gremth that nakid wer, and nothing 

 Bare this month afore but their sommer clothing ! 

 Lo how Nature maketh for them everichone ! 

 And as many as ther be he forgettith noone ! 

 Lo how the seson of the yere and Averell showris 

 Doith the bushis burgjTi out blossoms and flom'is ! 

 Lo the prjTuerosis how fresh they ben to sene ! 

 And many othir flouris among the grassis grene. 

 Lo how the}' spryng, and sprede, and of divers hue ! 

 Beholdith, and seith both rede, white and blue ! 

 That lusty bin and comfortabill for mann'ys sight ! 

 For I sey for myself it makith my hert to light." — Chaucer. 



" Pleasant are the words of the song," said CuthuUin ! " lovely the tales 

 of other times ! They are Uke the calm dew of the morning on the hill of 

 roes, when the siui is faint on its side, and the lake is settled and blue in 

 the vale." — 0.ssian. 



