GRASS AND GREEN THINGS. 5 



Full of fresh verdure, and unnumbered flowers, 

 The negligence of Nature, wide and wild. 



Spenser, the most imaginative of the poets, and one of the heartiest 

 lovers of green things, uses it as a symbol of the summer's approach- 

 ing fulness : — ■ 



The joyous time now nigheth fast, 

 That shall alegge this bitter blast, 



And slake the Winter sorrow. 

 Tho. — Sicker, Willye, thou warnest well; 

 For Winter's wrath begins to quell, 



And pleasant Spring appeareth ; 

 The grass now 'gins to be refreshed. 

 The swallow peeps out of her nest, 



And cloudy welkin cleareth. 

 Wil. — Seest not thilke same Hawthorn stud, 

 How bragly it begins to bud. 



And utter his tender head 1 

 Flora now calleth forth each flower, 

 And bids make ready Maia's bower.* 



Wordsworth is as happy : — 



The cock is crowing, 



The stream is flowing, 



The small birds twitter, 



The lake doth glitter, 

 The green field sleeps in the sun ; 



The oldest and youngest 



Are at work with the strongest; 



The cattle are grazing. 



Their heads never raising ; 

 There are forty feeding like one ! 



Like an army defeated, 



The snow hath retreated. 



And now doth fare ill 



On the top of the bare hill ; 

 The ploughboy is whooping — anon, anon: 



There's joy in the mountains. 



There's life in the fountains ; 



Small clouds are sailing. 

 Blue sky prevailing — 

 The rain is over and gone ! 



* Shepherd's Calendar. 



