68 WITH HERBS AND FLOWERS 



OPHELIA'S FLOWERS 



(Pram " Hamlet ") 



Ophelia. There's rosemary, that's for remem- 

 brance ; Pray you, love, remember : And there is 

 pansies, that's for thoughts. 



Laertes. A document in madness ; thoughts and 

 remembrance fitted. 



Ophelia. There's fennel for you, and columbines : 

 there's rue for you ; and here's some for me : 

 we may call it, herb of grace o' Sundays : you may 

 wear your rue with a difference. There's a daisy : 

 I would give you some violets ; but they withered 

 all, when my father died. 



WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. 



THE FALL OF THE ROSE 1 



WHAT the First Bee sang, who knows 

 When he tempted the First Rose ? 

 Some such tale the Flowers believe, 

 As the Serpent told to Eve. 

 Only this the Roses know : 

 Petals once as white as snow 

 To a burning crimson grew, 

 As her Loveliness she knew. 

 Then it was a leaf she took 

 Out of Eve's own fashion-book ; 



1 From Overheard in a Garden; copyright, 1900, by Oliver 

 Herford ; published by Charles Scribner's Sons. 



