72 MORAL OF FLOWERS. 



" And 'tis, and ever was my wish and way 

 To let all flowers live freely, and all die, 

 Whene'er their genius bids their souls depart, 

 Among their kindred, in their native place. 

 I never pluck the rose ; the violet's head 

 Hath shaken with my breath upon its bank 

 And not reproached me ; the ever sacred cup 

 Of the pure lily hath between my hands 

 Felt safe, unsoiled, nor lost one grain of gold." 



W. S. LANDOR. 



What says JEAN PAUL RITCHER ? " There 

 are so many tender and holy emotions flying 

 about in our inward world, which, like angels, can 

 never assume the body of an outward act ; so 

 many rich and lovely flowers spring up which 

 bear no seed that it is a happiness poetry was 

 invented, which receives into its limbus all these 

 incorporeal spirits, and the perfume of all these 

 flowers." It has been our object in the fore- 

 going pages, and will be in those which follow, 

 to give shape and consistency to the many 

 beautiful and holy feelings, emotions and fancies, 

 which are drawn forth from the human heart 

 and brain, by the sight of flowers, to be hidden 

 amid the delicate petals, until summoned by the 



