304 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



In 'some delicious ramble he had found 



A little space, with boughs all woven round ; 



And in the midst thereof a cleaver pool 



Than e'er reflected in its pleasant cool 



The blue sky here and there serenely peeping 



Through tendril wreaths fantastically creeping. 



And on the bank a lonely flower he spied, 



A meek and forlorn flower with nought of pride, 



Drooping its beauty o'er the watery clearness, 



To woo its own sad image into nearness. 



Deaf to light Zephyrus, it would not move; 



But still would seem to droop, to pine, to love. 



So, while the poet stood in this sweet spot, 



Some fainter gleamings o'er his fancy shot ; 



Nor was it long ere he had told the tale 



Of young Narcissus, and sad Echo's bale." 



KEATS. 



The poets have celebrated this flower also by its humbler 

 name of Daffodil : 



" Bid amaranthus all his beauty shed, 

 And daffodillies fill their cups with tears, 

 To strew the laureat hearse where Lycid lies." 



MILTON. 



There is a beautiful allusion to the early flowering of the 

 Daffodil in the Winter's Tale : 



-"Daffodils, 



That come before the swallow dares, and take 

 The winds of March with beauty." 



There is a species of the Daffodil which is very commonly 

 seen by brooks and rivulets with some of the Iris, or Flag- 

 flowers : 



There 



Spring the little odorous flowers, 



Violets, and lilies, white 



As the slender streams of light 



Gathering about the moon, 



On a lovely eve in June. 



Narcissus hanging down his head, 



And Iris in her watery bed, 



