ii8 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



"In its general expression the Poet's Narcissus 

 seems a type of maiden purity and beauty, yet 

 warmed by a love-breathing fragrance ; and yet what 

 innocence in the large soft eye which few can rival 

 among the whole tribe of flowers. The narrow, yet 

 vivid fringe of red so clearly seen amidst the white- 

 ness suggests again the idea of purity and gushing 

 passion purity with a heart which can kindle into 

 fire." 



Ill 



"Daisies Pied and Violets Blue" 



DAISY (Bellis perennis). Shakespeare often 

 mentions the daisy. With "violets blue" "lady- 

 smocks all silver-white," and "cuckoo-buds of every 

 hue," it "paints the meadows with delight" in that 

 delightful spring-song in "Love's Labour 's Lost." 

 Shakespeare also uses this flower as a beautiful com- 

 parison for the delicate hand of Lucrece in "The 

 Rape of Lucrece" : 2 



Without the bed her other fair hand was 

 On the green coverlet; whose perfect white 

 Showed like an April daisy on the grass. 



'Act V, Scene II. 

 'Stanza 57. 



