84 OUR BOCK-GARDEN 



black and white plumage of the magpie. Shake- 

 speare sees the contrast in the bright yellow boss 

 as contrasted with the pure white rays that sur- 

 round it, while Milton sees it in the verdant mead 

 besprinkled over with the daisies. 



The name daisy is a corruption of the original 

 day's-eye a name bestowed upon it from the 

 expansion of the flower-heads in the daytime and 

 their closing at night. 1 Chaucer's love of nature 

 is manifested everywhere in his writings, and the 

 lowly daisy was to him 



" Of all floures the floure, 

 Fulfilled of all vertue and honoure, 

 And ever alike faire and fresh of hewe, 

 As well in winter as in summer newe." 



He tells us that "when commen is the Maie " his 

 delight is at early dawn to seek the meadows " to 

 see this floure against the sunne sprede," having 

 already noted how with the setting sun 



"This floure how it will go to rest, 

 For fear of night, so hateth she darkness." 



Over and over again in his writings we see a very 

 special regard for this little flower. 



In France the daisy is the marguerite ; hence it 

 has been chosen by those of highest estate as an 



1 "The little dazie that at evening closes." SPENSER. 



