XX11 INTRODUCTION. 



the slave of custom and fashion; pleased with 

 a plaything one moment, and tired of it the 

 next : his objects of pursuit are often, too, as 

 fleeting and transitory as the vain wish which 

 first gave birth to it; mere phantoms of the 

 imagination, bubbles of air, which very often 

 vanish in the pursuit, or perish in the attain- 

 ment : hence it follows that the same career 

 is run, and the same beaten track trodden as 

 before. 



To particularize any two or three flowers 

 in this place might appear invidious, yet I 

 trust I shall incur no displeasure from my 

 readers, while I just place before their eyes 

 the names of a few well-known favourites, 

 which want not my aid either to extol their 

 beauty or to speak their praise. 



' Now, my fairest friend, 



I would I had some flowers o' the spring ; Daffodils, 

 That come before the swallow dares, and take 

 The winds of March with beauty ; Violets dim, 

 But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes, 



