250 ON THE LOVE OP FLOWERS. 



the shadowing of its verdant foliage — liis eye rests upon the dew-drop 

 that trembles on the leaf; a gleam of sunshine darts across, and gives 

 it the sparkling brilliancy of a diamond. He sees the bee hovering 

 around, buzzing its joyous anticipation of the honey he shall draw from 

 its very heart ; and the delicate butterfly suspended as it were by magic 

 from its silken petals. His imagination, too, brings around it a world 

 of associations, adding beauty and interest to the object actually before 

 liis eye. Thus flowers have been described in all their seasons, and in 

 every variety of situation and circumstance, budding forth in timid 

 beauty in the early spring, glowing in tlie maturity of summer, lingering 

 in the chilling breath of autumn, and some few as daring even the frosts 

 of winter. Tliey have been represented as sinking with drought, weighed 

 down with rain, and fading in the noon-day sun ; as opening, fresh with 

 dew, to the beauty of tlie morning, and closing with the day; as en- 

 larged and improved by the hand" of art; as dying, or growing rank 

 and wild, under the influence of neglect. 



How beautifully the poet says, in praying for the inspiration of 

 poesy, 



. " 'fsvill bring me to the fair 



Visions of all places : a bowei-j' nook 



Will be elysium — an eternal book 



Whence I may copy many a lovely saying 



About the leaves and flowers ; about the playing 



Of nymphs in woods and fountains ; and tlie shade 



Keeping a silence round a sleeping maid ; 



And many a verse from so strange influence, 



That we must ever wonder how and -whence 



It came !" Keats. 



The spring is, in particular, a subject deliglitfal to the poet. He 

 loves to celebrate the clieerful season when 



" The palms put forth her gems, and every tree 

 Now swaggers in her leafy gallantry." Herrick. 



" As spring, attended by the laughing hours, 

 Afler long storm is wont to reappear, 

 AVhen the mild zephyr, breathing through tlie bo-vrers, 

 Brings back its former beauty to the year, 

 And goes enamelling the banks with flowers. 

 Blue, white and red, all eyes and hearts to cheer." 



Wiffen's Garcilasso. 



Gawin Douglas gives an exquisite picture of May. April is described 

 by a French poet in the colours of an English May ; tlie spring, of 

 course, being somewhat earlier in the warmer climate of P'rance : 



" April — the hawthorn and the eglantine, 

 Purple -woodbine. 



Streaked pink, and lily-cap, and rose. 

 And thyme, and marjoram, are spreading 

 Where thou art treading ; 

 And their sweet eyes for thee unclose."' Eemy Belleau. 



The dew on flowers, on the violet in particular, has frequently been 

 compared to tears trembling in a blue eye. A dew-drop has given life 

 to some of the loveliest gems of poetry : 



