106 PROSERPINA. 



But Greek is not yet dead : while if we carry our UD scholarly 

 nomenclature much further, English soon will be ; and then 

 doubtless botanical gentlemen at Athens will for some time 

 think it fine to describe what we used to call caryophyllaceae, 

 as the eSAi7<iSes. 



30. For indeed we are all of us yet but school-boys, clum- 

 sily using alike our lips and brains ; and with all our mastery 

 of instruments and patience of attention, but few have reached, 

 and those dimly, the first level of science, wonder. 



For the first instinct of the stem, unnamed by us yet 

 unthought of, the instinct of seeking light, as of the root to 

 seek darkness, what words can enough speak the wonder of it. 



Look. Here is the little thing, Line-study V. (A), in its 

 first birth to us : the stem of stems ; the one of which we 

 pray that it may bear our daily bread. The seed has fallen 

 in the ground with the springing germ of it downwards ; 

 with heavenly cunning the taught stem curls round, and seeks 

 the never-seen light. Veritable ' conversion,' miraculous, 

 called of God. And here is the oat germ, (B) after the 

 wheat, most vital of divine gifts ; and assuredly, in days to 

 come, fated to grow on many a naked rock in hitherto lifeless 

 lands, over which the glancing sheaves of it will shake sweet 

 treasure of innocent gold. 



And who shall tell us how they grow ; and the fashion of 

 their rustling pillars bent, and again erect, at every breeze. 

 Fluted shaft or clustered pier, how poor of art, beside this 

 grass-shaft built, first to sustain the food of men, then to be 

 strewn under their feet ! 



We must not stay to think of it, yet, or we shall get no far- 

 ther till harvest has come and gone again. And having our 

 names of stems now determined enough, we must in next 

 chapter try a little to understand the different kinds of them. 



The following notes, among many kindly sent me on the 

 subject of Scottish Heraldry, seem to be the most trust- 

 worthy : 



"The earliest known mention of the thistle as the national badge of 

 Scotland is in the inventory of the effects of James III., who probably 

 adopted it as an appropriate illustration of the royal motto, In defence. 



