280 IN A GLOUCESTERSHIRE GARDEN 



special characters. But the plant-world is governed by 

 strict, unchanging, and, we may say, eternal laws. 

 What I mean is this : — If I take two sets of small seeds 

 in my hands, they may at first sight seem absolutely 

 the same, yet one may be the seed of a small annual, 

 the other the seed of a large tree ; and if I know the 

 history of the plants that produced the seeds, I can 

 foretell with certainty the whole future life of the 

 seeds, the shape and nature of the leaves, the size of 

 the plants, the colours of the flowers, the shapes and 

 uses of the fruit, and the length of life which will be 

 allotted to each. Every plant that grows is produced 

 and lives by the strictest law ; like has produced like 

 from the beginning, and will do so to the end. And 

 this is so perfectly true, that there can be no doubt 

 that the flowers we admire now are identical with those 

 which were grown by Greek and Eoman, Egyptian or 

 Assyrian gardeners, identical in every respect, shape, 

 colour, foliage, and scent. Keble carries the idea 

 to its furthest limit, and identifies his own 'sweet 

 nurslings of the vernal skies' with the flowers of 

 Paradise : — 



' Relics ye are of Eden's bowers, 



As pure, as fragrant, and as fair 

 As when ye crowned the sunshine hours 



Of happy wanderers there. 



