THE SYMBOL OF THE ROSE 101 



THE SUNFLOWER 



(From " Rudel to the Lady of Tripoli ") 



I KNOW a Mount, the gracious Sun perceives 



First, when he visits, last, too, when he leaves 



The world ; and, vainly favoured, it repays 



The day-long glory of his steadfast gaze 



By no change of its large calm front of snow. 



And underneath the Mount, a Flower I know, 



He cannot have perceived, that changes ever 



At his approach ; and, in the lost endeavour 



To live his life, has parted, one by one, 



With all a flower's true graces, for the grace 



Of being but a foolish mimic sun, 



W T ith ray-like florets round a disk-like face. 



Men nobly call by many a name the Mount 



As over many a land of theirs its large 



Calm front of snow like a triumphal targe 



Is reared, and still with old names, fresh names vie, 



Each to its proper praise and own account : 



Men call the Flower, the Sunflower, sportively. 



ROBEKT BROWNING. 



THE SYMBOL OF THE ROSE 



(From " Rosa Mystica") 



ALONG the husht garden-ways beside me and behind 

 me are roses, crimson and yellow, sulphur-white and 



