March — Young Hemlock. 85 



cious ramble,' found the flower looking at itself in the 

 water, and imagined for it the story that we know ? 



• And on the bank a lonely flower he spied, 

 A meek and forlorn flower, with nought of pride, 

 Drooping its beauty o'er the watery clearness, 

 To woo its own sad image into nearness : 

 Deaf to light Zephyrus it would not move ; 

 But still would seem to droop, to pine, to love. 

 So while the poet stood in this sweet spot, 

 Some fainter gleamings o'er his fancy shot, 

 Nor was it long ere he had told the tale 

 Of young Narcissus, and sad Echo's bale.' 



XVII. 



Young Hemlock — Socrates — Authorized Suicides — The Death of 

 Socrates — Peach-bloom — Apricot Blossoms — Value of Old Walls. 



THERE is a corner of a neglected old garden at the 

 Val Ste. V£ronique in which grows a certain plant 

 very abundantly, that inevitably reminds us of an ancient 

 philosopher. Towards the end of March it is all carpeted 

 with young hemlock, which at this stage of its existence 

 lies almost perfectly flat upon the ground, and covers it 

 with one of the most minutely beautiful designs that can 

 possibly be imagined ; the delicate division and sub- 

 division of the fresh green leaves making a pattern that 

 would be fit for some small room, if a skilful manu- 

 facturer copied it. Our own hemlock is believed to be 

 identical with that which caused the death of Socrates, 



