"THE SWEET O' THE YEAR" 101 



outlandish, unintelligible word was soon familiar- 

 ized into Primerolles and this into Primrose." The 

 name was also written primrolles and finally settled 

 down into primrose. Chaucer wrote primerole, a 

 name derived from the French Primeverole, mean- 

 ing, like the Italian Flor di prima vera, the first 

 spring flower. 



COWSLIP (Paralysis vulgaris pratensis). The 

 cowslip is an ingratiating little flower, not so aloof 

 as its cousin the primrose, and not at all melancholy. 

 In the popular lore of Shakespeare's time the cow- 

 slip was associated with fairies. In many places it 

 was known as "fairy cups." For this reason Shake- 

 speare makes Ariel lie in a cowslip's bell when the 

 fay is frightened by the hooting of owls, or tired of 

 swinging merrily in "the blossom that hangs on the 

 bough." One of the duties of Titania's little maid 

 of honor was "to hang a pearl in every cowslip's 

 ear"; and this gay little fairy informs Puck of the 

 important place cowslips hold in the court of the 

 tiny Queen Titania: 



The cowslips tall her pensioners be, 

 In their gold coats spots you see: 

 These be rubies, fairy favors, 

 In these freckles live their savors. 1 



*"A Midsummer Night's Dream"; Act II, Scene I. 



