PRIMROSE. 345 



" The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose." 



MILTON'S MAY MORNING. 



" What next ? a tuft of evening primroses, 

 O'er which the mind may hover till it dozes ; 

 O'er which it well might take a pleasant sleep, 

 But that 'tis ever startled by the leap 

 Of buds into ripe flowers." 



KEATS. 



" The Primrose, when with sixe leaves gotten grace, 

 Maids as a true-love in their bosoms place." 



W. BROWNE. 



The following lines give a pleasant picture of a kind of 

 idly-musing tranquillity : 



" As some wayfaring man passing a wood 



Goes jogging on, and in his minde nought hath, 

 But how the primrose finely strew the path, 

 Or sweetest violets lay downe their heads, 

 At some tree's roote on mossie featherbeds." 



W. BROWNE. 



Wordsworth alludes to the early passing away of the 

 Primrose : 



" Primroses, the spring may love them, 

 Summer knows but little of them." 



Ben Jonson calls it " The spring's own spouse." 

 Herrick addresses some lines to Primroses filled with 



morning dew : 

 / 



" Why do ye weep, sweet babes ? can tears 



Speak grief in you, 



Who were but born 

 Just as the modest morn 

 Teemed her refreshing dew ? 

 Alas ! you have not known that shower 



That mars a flower ; 



Nor felt the unkind 

 Breath of a blasting wind; 

 Nor are ye worn with years ; 



