192 FROM A MIDDLESEX GARDEN 



addition to their frugal meal, now almost unknown in culinary 

 art, mentioned once by Shakespeare 



" Here's the place : stand still. How fearful 

 And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eye so low ! 



. Half-way down 

 Hangs one that gathers samphire dreadful trade ! " 



There, too, the yellow-horned poppy gilded the cliffs in 

 places, and the bugloss dappled the white crags with their 

 spikes of bloom ; high and low grew tufts of feathery sea- 

 spurge and misty eryngo. It was joy indeed to sit among 

 the flowers on the cliff-top watching the outward flowing or 

 the incoming tide, to gaze upon the passing ships on their 

 journeys of pleasure and toil, of gladness and sadness; for 

 some, no doubt, had those aboard who were keeping holi- 

 day ; some were going eastward, carrying those who were 

 leaving their native land, with eyes still wet with parting 

 tears, dimming the coast ; some were sailing westward, 

 having on board those who were nearing the homeland shore, 

 standing on deck piercing the distance for a first vision of 

 home. It is thus many have mused, as I did, whilst sitting 

 on the sun-steeped cliff-top among the newly-opened flowers 

 of the milk-wort and blue columbines one of the most 

 beautiful of down-flowers, of which Parkinson quaintly says : 

 " They flower not untill May, and abide for the moste part 

 untill June is past ; the double kindes are chiefly cherished 

 in gardens." 



In the distance, back from the cliffs, stretched acres of 

 wind - kissed forage, comprised of red sainfoin and giant 

 crimson clover ; and farther still stretched the ripening wheat, 

 over which the cloud-shadows played at times, sketching on 

 the miles of verdure most fanciful pictures. 



