PREFACE. xxxvil 



And many a verse from so strange influence, 

 That we must ever wonder how and whence 

 It came !" 



KEATS. 



The spring is, in particular, a subject delightful to the 

 poet. He loves to celebrate the cheerful season when 



" The palms put forth her gems, and every tree 

 Now swaggers in her leafy gallantry." 



HERRICK. 



" As spring, attended by the laughing hours, 

 After long storm is wont to reappear, 

 When the mild zephyr, breathing through the bowers, 

 Brings back its former beauty to the year, 

 And goes enamelling the banks with flowers, 

 Blue, white, and red, all eyes and hearts to cheer." 



WIFFEN'S GARCILASSO. 



Gawin Douglas gives an exquisite picture of May. 

 April is described by a French poet in the colours of an 

 English May ; the spring, of course, being somewhat earlier 

 in the warmer climate of France : 



" April the hawthorn and the eglantine, 

 Purple woodbine, 



Streaked pink, and lily-cap, and rose, 

 And thyme, and marjoram, are spreading 

 Where thou art treading ; 

 And their sweet eyes for thee unclose. 



REMY BELLEAU *. 



The dew on flowers, on the violet in particular, has fre- 

 quently been compared to tears trembling in a blue eye (. 

 A dew-drop has given life to some of the loveliest gems of 

 poetry : 



" See the dew-drops how they kiss 

 Every little flower that is, 



* See London Magazine, Vol. V. p. 334. 

 t See Violet. 



