148 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



One more passage we will add, and go no further, for 

 we should fill a volume did we collect all the poetical pas- 

 sages relative to this favourite flower. 



" Star of the mead ! sweet daughter of the day, 

 Whose opening flower invites the morning ray, 

 From thy moist cheek and bosom's chilly fold 

 To kiss the tears of eve, the dew-drops cold ! 

 Sweet daisy, flower of love ! when birds are paired, 

 'Tis sweet to see thee with thy bosom bared, 

 Smiling in virgin innocence serene, 

 Thy pearly crown above thy vest of green. 

 The lark, with sparkling eye, and rustling wing, 

 Rejoins his widow'd mate in early spring ; 

 And, as he prunes his plumes of russet hue, 

 Swears on thy maiden blossom to be true. 



When May-day comes, the morning of the year, 

 And from young April dries the gelid tear, 

 When, as the verdure spreads, the bird is seen 

 No more, that sings amid the hawthorns green, 

 In lovelier tints thy swelling blossoms blow 

 The leaflets red beneath the leaves of snow. 

 The damsel now, with love-awakened mind, 

 First hopes to leave her infancy behind, 

 Glides o'er the untrodden mead at dawning hour, 

 To seek the matin-dew of mystic power, 

 Bends o'er the mirror-stream with blushful air, 

 And weaves thy modest flower amid her hair. 



Oft have I watched thy closing buds at eve, 

 Which for the parting sunbeams seemed to grieve, 

 And, when gay morning gilt the dew-bright plain, 

 Seen them unclasp their folded leaves again : 

 Nor he who sung ' The daisy is so sweet/ 

 More dearly loved thy pearly form to greet ; 

 When on his scarf the knight the daisy bound, 

 And dames at tourneys shone with daisies crowned, 

 And fays forsook the purer fields above 

 To hail the daisy, flower of faithful 'love." 



DR. J. LEYDEK. 



Of the Garden Daisy there are many varieties : the 



