THE FLOWER 111 



tree which then blossoms ; crocus vernus, both 

 the yellow and the grey ; primroses, anemones, 

 the early tulip, hyacinthus orientalis, chamairis, 

 fritellaria. 



FRANCIS BACON (LORD VERULAM). 



THE FLOWER 



How fresh, O Lord, how sweet and clean 

 Are thy returns ! e'en as the flowers in spring ; 



To which, besides their own demean, 

 The late-past frosts tributes of pleasure bring. 

 Grief melts away 

 Like snow in May, 

 As if there were no such cold thing. 



Who would have thought my shrivel'd heart 

 Could have recover'd greenness ? It was gone 



Quite under ground ; as flowers depart 

 To see their mother-root, when they have blown ; 

 W'here they together 

 All the hard weather, 

 Dead to the world, keep house unknown. 



These are thy wonders, Lord of power, 

 Killing and quickening, bringing down to hell 



And up to heaven in an hour ; 

 Making a chiming of a passing bell. 

 We say amiss, 

 This or that is : 

 Thy word is all, if we could spell. 



