COWSLIP. 



" on her left breast 



A mole cinque-spotted, like the crimson drops 

 I' the bottom of a cowslip." 



But there is a variety with red flowers. They will some- 

 times flower again in November and December. Mr. 

 Martyn speaks of some in his own gardens which always 

 blew at that season when the winter was mild. 



The light stalk of the Cowslip, gently bending with its 

 weight of flowers, is elegantly described by Milton, who 

 takes advantage of this drooping appearance to select it, 

 with some others, to adorn the tomb of Lycidas : 



" Bring the rathe-primrose that forsaken dies, 

 The tufted crow-toe, and pale jessamine, 

 The white pink, and the pansy freak'd with jet, 

 The glowing violet, 



The musk-rose, and the well-attired woodbine, 

 With cowslips wan that hang the pensive head, 

 And every flower that sad embroidery wears : 

 Bid amaranthus all his beauty shed, 

 And daffodillies fill their cups with tears, 

 To strew the laureat hearse where Lycid lies." 



And again, in the song of Sabrina, how beautifully does 

 the unbending flower, and the airy tread of the goddess, 

 each express the lightness of the other : 



" By the rushy fringed bank, 



Where grow the willow and the osier dank, 



My sliding chariot stays, 



Thick set with agate and the azure sheen 



Of turkis blue, and emerald green, 



That in the channel strays ; 



Whilst from off the waters fleet 



Thus I set my printless feet, 



O'er the cowslip's velvet head, 



That bends not as I tread ; 



Gentle swain, at thy request, 



I am here." 



Ben Jonson plays with the name of the Cowslip, as Chaucer 

 does with that of the daisy : 



