EAMPION HABEBELL. 181 



It is pretty frequent in gardens. I found it also near War- 

 minster. This is the true Rampion. Before salad herbs were 

 generally cultivated in England, the root of this plant was 

 eaten raw, and sold for that purpose in the markets. 



The corn fields of the same neighbourhood furnished the 

 Corn Bell-Flower, or Venus's Looking-glass (C. hybrida). The 

 bloom of this little plant is well known in gardens ; it is very 

 open, and of a brilliant violet hue. The segments of the calyx 

 are very long, and curl backwards. The leaves are a long oval, 

 and curly. 



The Heathbell, or Harebell (C. rotundifolia), is a general 

 favourite, and found everywhere in meadows, pastures, and 

 roadsides, and on wild commons, rocks, and old walls. Though 

 common all over England, it is principally associated with 

 Scotland, being called the " BluebeU of Scotland : " 



" My ain Bluebell, my bonnie Bluebell." 



" It springeth on the heath, 



The forest tree beneath, 

 Like to some elfin dweller of the wild ; 



Light as a breeze astir, 



Stemmed with the gossamer, 

 Soft as the blue eyes of a poet's child. 



" The very flower to take 



Into the heart, and make 

 The cherished memory of ell pleasant places ; 



Name but the light Harebell, 



And straight is pictured well 

 What ere of fallen state lie lonely traces. 



' We vision wild sea-rocks, 



Where hang its clustering locks, 

 Waving at diz/y height o'er ocean's brink ; 



The hermit's scooped cell ; 



The forest's sylvan well, 

 Where the poor wounded hart comes down to drink. 



" We vision moors far spread, 



Where blooms the Heather red, 

 And hunters, with their dogs, lie down at noon ; 



Some shepherd-boys, who keep 



On mountain sides their sheep, 

 Cheating the time with flowers and fancies' boon. 



