PREFACE. xxix 



was to tend the flowers, to prune the luxuriant branches, 

 and support the roses, heavy with beauty (see ROSES, 

 page 323). Poets have taken pleasure in painting gar- 

 dens in all the brilliancy of imagination. See the garden 

 of Alcinous, in Homer's Odyssey ; those of Morgana, Al- 

 cina, and Armida, in the Italian poets : the gardens fair 



" Of Hesperus and his daughters three 

 Who sing about the golden tree:" 



and Proserpina's garden, and the Bower of Bliss in Spen- 

 ser's Fairie Queene. The very mention of their names 

 seems to embower one in leaves and blossoms. 



It is a matter of some taste to arrange a bouquet of 

 flowers judiciously; even in language, we have a finer idea 

 of colours, when such are placed together as look well to- 

 gether in substance. Do we read of white, purple, red, 

 and yellow flowers, they do not present to us so exquisite 

 a picture, as if we read of yellow and purple, white and 

 red. Their arrangement has been happily touched upon 

 by some of our poets : 



th' Azores send 



Their jessamine; her jessamine, remote 

 Caffraia : foreigners from many lands, 

 They form one social shade, as if convened 

 By magic summons of th' Orphean lyre. 

 Yet just arrangement, rarely brought to pass 

 But by a master's hand disposing well 

 The gay diversities of leaf and flower, 

 Must lend its aid t' illustrate all their charms, 

 And dress the regular, yet various scene. 

 Plant behind plant aspiring, in the van 

 The dwarfish ; in the rear retired, but still 

 Sublime above the rest, the statelier stand." 



COWPER. 



tibi lilia plenis 



Ecce ferunt nymphse calathis : tibi Candida Nais, 



