FLOWERS. 



of Milton for their homage to his lost Ly- 

 cidas 1 We can never repeat it too often : 



" Ye valleys low, where the mild whispers use 



Of shades, and wanton winds, and gushing brooks, 



On whose fresh lap the swart star sparely looks, 



Throw hither all your quaint enamell'd eyes, 



That on the green turf suck the honied showers, 



And purple all the ground with vernal flowers ; 



Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies, 



The tufted crow-toe, and pale jessamine, 



The white pink, and the pansy freak'd with jet, 



The glowing violet, 



The musk rose, and the well-attired woodbine, 



With cowslips wan that hang the pensive head, 



And every flower that sad embroidery wears ; 



Bid amaranthus all his beauty shed, 



And daffodillies fill their cups with tears, 



To strow the laureat hearse where Lycid lies." 



It has been objected that Milton's bouquet 

 was formed of flowers that bloom at different 

 seasons ; but we pardon the fault, if such it 

 be, in consideration of the beauty of the 

 passage, even as we forgive the artist who, 

 for effect of colour or sentiment, sometimes 

 in like manner oversteps the floral boundary 

 of possibility. 



