1125 



is rather curious. Surely the chaste and delicate priiniose would 

 not desire more than one bridegroom. But if the botanical suitors of 

 the " love-listening primrose" be few, her poetical ones are many, and 

 none more sincere than the patriotic Elliott : — 



" To THE Primrose. 



'* Surely that man is pure in thought and deed, 



Whom spirits teach in breeze-born melodies ; 

 For he finds tongues in every flower and weed, 

 And admonitions in mute harmonies. 



Erect he moves, by Truth and Beauty led, 



And climbs his throne, for such a monarch meet, 



To gaze on valleys, that, around him spread. 

 Carpet the hall of heaven beneath his feet. 



How like a trumpet under all the skies, 



Blown to convene all forms that love his beams, 



Light speaks in splendour to the poet's eyes, 



O'er dizzy rocks, and woods, and headlong streams ! 



How like the voice of woman, when she sings 



To her belov'd, of love and constancy. 

 Thy vernal odours, o'er the miirmurings 



Of distant waters pour their melody 



Into his soul, mix'd with the throstle's song 



And the wren's twitter ! Welcome then again. 



Love-listening Primrose ! Though not parted long. 

 We meet, like lovers, after years of pain ; 



Oh, thou bring'st blissful childhood back to me ! 



Thou still art loveliest in the lonest place ; 

 Still, as of old, day glows with love for thee. 



And reads our heavenly Father in thy face. 



Surely thy thoughts are humble and devout, 



Flower of the pensive gold ! for why should Heaven 



Deny to thee his noblest boon of thought, 

 If to earth's demigods 'tis vainly given ? 



Answer me, sinless sister ! Thou hast speech, 

 Though silent. Fragrance is thy eloquence, 



Beauty thy language ; and thy smile might teach 

 Ungrateful man to pardon Providence.'' 



The occurrence of the name of Plantago lanceolata leads us to 

 mention a plant that occurs in Herefordshire. There are scarcely two 

 species of plants more familiar to the English botanist than P. media 

 and P. lanceolata. The first has ovate, the last lanceolate, leaves ; 

 the first has long stamens, with beautifully purple filaments, giving 

 VOL. IV. 7 E 



