ON THE DOUBLE FLOWERING PRIMROSE. 103 



Wordsworth alludes to the early passing away of the Primrose : — 

 " Primroses, the spring may love them, 

 Summer knows but little of them." 

 Ben Jonson calls it " The spring's own spouse." 

 Herrick addresses some lines to Primroses filled with morning 

 dew : — 



" Why do ye weep, sweet babes ? can tears 

 Speak grief in you, 

 Who were but born 

 Just as the modest morn 

 Teemed her refreshing dew ? 

 Alas ! you have not known that shower 

 That mars a flower; 

 Nor felt the unkind 

 Breath of a blasting wind ; 

 Nor are ye worn with years ; 



Or warped, as we, 

 Who think it strange to see 

 Such pretty flowers, like to orphans young, 

 To speak by tears before ye have a tongue. 



Speak, whimpering younglings, and make known 

 The reason why 

 Ye droop and weep ; 

 Is it for want of sleep, 

 Or childish lullaby? 

 Or that ye have not seen as yet 

 The violet?" 

 The poems of Clare are as thickly strewn with Primroses as the 

 woods themselves ; the two following passages are from the Village 

 Minstrel : — 



" Oh, who can speak his joys when spring's young morn 

 From wood and pasture opened on his view ; 

 When tender green buds blush upon the thorn, 

 And the first primrose dips its leaves in dew ! 

 " And while he plucked the primrose in its pride, 



He pondered o'er its bloom 'tween joy and pain ; 

 And a rude sonnet in its praise he tried, 



Where nature's simple way the aid of art supplied." 



