XARCtSSUS. 305 



Round about the silver streams, 

 Sparkle out like golden beams 

 Scattered from Apollo's hair, 

 When springing to the morning air 

 From the frothy sea, he shook 

 Some crystal drops into the brook." 



Spenser represents the " black-browed Cymoent," the 

 mother of Marinel, playing 



" Amongst her watery sisters by a pond, 

 Gathering sweet daffodillies to have made 

 Gay garlands, from the sun their foreheads fair to shade." 



The cup in the centre of the flower is supposed to contain 

 the tears of Narcissus; to which Milton alludes in the 

 passage cited above ; and Virgil in the following, where he 

 is speaking of the occupations of the bees : 



-" Pars intra septa domorum 



Narcissi lacrymam, et lentum de cortice gluten, 

 Prima favis ponunt fundamina, deinde tenaces 

 Suspendunt ceras." 



VIRGIL, GEORGIC 4. 



" Some within the house lay tears of daffodils, and tough glue from 

 the barks of trees, for the foundations of the combs, and then suspend 

 the tenacious wax." MARTYN'S TRANSLATION. 



Thomson celebrates the sweetness of the Jonquil, or 

 Sweet Narcissus : 



" No gradual bloom is wanting ; from the bud, 

 First-born of Spring, to Summer's musky tribes ; 

 Nor hyacinths, of purest virgin white, 

 Low bent, and blushing inward ; nor jonquils, 

 Of potent fragrance ; nor Narcissus fair, 

 As o'er the fabled fountain hanging still." 



THOMSON'S SPRING. 



" Narcissus, drooping on his rill, 

 Keeps his odorous beauty still *." 



Translation from Milton. See Literary Examiner, No. 11, 



x 



