CELANDINE. 97 



Singing at my heart's command, 

 In the lanes my thoughts pursuing, 

 1 will sing, as doth behove, 

 Hymns in praise of what I love." 



But to quote all this poet's praises of the Celandine is 

 more than can be allowed to us. The reader is too well 

 acquainted with his writings to be ignorant of his love 

 for this little flower, or to refuse him the sympathy he 

 requires : 



" Let, with bold advent'rous skill, 

 Others thrid the polar sea ; 

 Build a pyramid who will ; 

 Praise it is enough for me, 

 If there be but three or four 

 Who will love my little flower." 



Mrs. Charlotte Smith more than once alludes to the early 

 flowering of the Pilewort: particularly in the lines ad- 

 dressed to the early butterfly : 



' ' Trusting the first warm day of spring, 

 When transient sunshine warms the sky, 

 Light on his yellow spotted wing 

 Comes forth the early butterfly. 



With wavering flight he settles now 

 Where Pilewort spreads its blossoms fair, 

 Or on the grass where daisies blow, 

 Pausing, he rests his pinions there. 



But, insect, in a luckless hour 

 Thou from thy winter home hast come, 

 For yet is seen no luscious flower, 

 With odour rich and honied bloom. 



And these that to the early day 

 Yet timidly their bells unfold, 

 Close with the sun's retreating ray, 

 And shut their humid eyes of gold." 



