LILIES. 255 



" Save that the lilac hangs to view 

 Its bursting gems in clusters blue. " 



T. WARTON. 



When the Lilac blossom has attained its full beauty, it 

 begins to fade gradually, until it becomes at last of a red 

 colour. Thus Cowper speaks of them as sanguine : 



' ' The lilac, various in array, now white, 

 Now sanguine, and her beauteous head now set 

 With purple spikes pyramidal, as if 

 Studious of ornament, yet unresolved 

 Which hues she most approved, she chose them all." 



COWPER'S TASK. 



shrubs there are 



Of bolder growth, that at the call of spring 

 Burst forth in blossom'd fragrance ; lilacs robed 

 In snow-white innocence, or purple pride." 



MASON'S ENGLISH GARDEN. 



The Spanish poet Garcilasso describes a shepherd offering 

 Blue Violets to Venus, in return for three kisses which he 

 had obtained from his mistress under the shade of some 

 Lilac trees : 



" These violets, holy power, to thee 



With grateful mind does Thyrsis cast, 

 For that from long-loved Leuca, he 



Has gained some fruit of love at last. 

 Creeping behind the lilac trees, 



I snatched three kisses sweet, and choice." 



LILIES. 



LILIUM. 



LILACEJE. HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



French, le lis ; lys. Italian, giglio : in the Brescian, zei. 

 ALTHOUGH we usually associate the idea of extreme 

 whiteness with the lily, so that it is common to express a 

 pure white by comparison with this flower, as with snow, 



