APRIL. 79 



unlocking, expanded themselves into the foliage 

 of Nature's tapestry. There was a soft verdure 

 after balmy showers. The flowers smiled in 

 various colours on the bending stalks. Some 

 red, others watchet like the blue and wavy 

 sea, speckled with red and white, or bright as 

 gold. The daisy embraided her little coronet. 

 The grass stood embattled with banewort ; the 

 seeded down flew from the dandelion. Young 

 weeds appeared among the leaves of the straw- 

 berries and gay gilliflowers. The rose-buds, 

 putting forth, offered their red vernal lips to 

 be kissed ; and diffused fragrance from the crisp 

 scarlet that surrounded their golden seeds. 

 Lilies, with white curling tops, showed their 

 crests open. The odorous vapour moistened 

 the silver webs that hung from the leaves. 

 The plain was powdered with round dewy 

 pearls. From every bud, scion, herb, and 

 flower bathed in liquid fragrance, the bee 

 sucked sweet honey. The swans clamoured 

 amid the rustling reeds, and searched all the 

 lakes and grey rivers where to build their nests. 

 The red bird of the sun lifted his coral crest, 

 crowing clear among the plants and bushes, 

 picking his food from every path, and attended 

 by his wives Toppa and Partlet. The painted 

 pea-cock with gaudy plumes unfolded his tail 

 like a bright wheel, enshrouded in his silver 



