114 F LOB At CEREMONIES. 



it was ordained that the feast should be annually 

 kept on the 28th day of April, that is four days 

 before the calends of May." Bounteous 

 May! 



" Woods and groves are of thy dressing, 

 Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing/' 



As Milton sings, but we shall have much to 

 say of our modern " Feast of Flowers," which, 

 doubtless, had its origin in that above spoken 

 of, and which was introduced by the Roman 

 conquerors into Britain. 



" ! fairest of the fabled forms ! that stream, 

 Dressed by wild Fancy, through the poet's dream, 

 Still may thy attributes of leaves and flowers, 

 Thy gardens rich, and shrub-o'ershadowed bowers, 

 And yellow meads, with spring's first honors bright, 

 The child's gay heart and frolic step invite j 

 And while the careless wanderer explores 

 The umbrageous forest or the rugged shores, 

 Climbs the green down or roams the broom-clad waste, 

 May Truth and Nature form his future taste ! 

 Goddess ! on youth's blest hours thy gifts bestow ; 

 Bind the fair wreath on virgin Beauty's brow, 

 And still may Fancy's brightest flowers be wove 

 Round the gold chains of hymeneal love." 



CHARLOTTE SMITH. 



