2 INTRODUCTION. 



From the river gently flowing, 

 From the land of the Edusas, 

 From the land of the Sybillas, 

 From the blue flower of the lucerne, 

 From the white flower of the bramble, 

 From the thistle and the teazle. 

 Where the brilliant Peacock, lo, 

 Loves to sip the hquid honey. 

 Loves to spread his painted pinions : 

 I repeat them as I heard them 

 From the truthful lips of Douglas, 

 Friend, Philosopher and Mentor." 



Should you ask me where the Douglas 

 Found these lessons and descriptions, 

 I should answer, I should tell jon, 

 " In the wild bees' mossy dwelling, 

 In the crevices of elm trees, 

 In the depths of wood decaying, 

 In the foUage of the hedgerow. 

 In the deep and hollow sand pit, 

 All the insects sang them to him : 

 In the oak woods, in the fen lands. 

 In the melancholy marshes. 

 The Copper, Hippothoe, sang them. 

 And the Swallowtail, Machaon, 

 And the Emperor, the Iris, 

 Clad m robes of Tyrian purple." 

 And if further you should ask me, 



