xxx PREFACE. 



Pallentes violas et summa papavera carpens, 

 Narcissum et florem jungit bene olentis anethi. 

 Turn casia, atque aliis intexens suavibus herbis, 

 Mollia luteola pingit vaccinia caltha." 



VIRGIL, Eclogue 2. 



<c Behold the nymphs bring thee lilies in full baskets : for thee fair 

 Nais, cropping the pale violets and heads of poppies, joins the nar- 

 cissus, and flower of sweet-smelling anise : then, interweaving them 

 with cassia and other fragrant herbs, sets off the soft hyacinth with 

 the saffron marygold." 



DAVIDSON'S TRANSLATION. 



Drayton runs riot on the subject : a nymph in his Muse's 

 Elysium says, 



" Here damask-roses, white and red, 

 Out of my lap first take I, 

 Which still shall run along the thread ; 

 My chiefest flower this make I. 

 Amongst these roses in a row, 

 Next place I pinks in plenty, 

 These double-daisies then for show, 

 And will not this be dainty ? 

 The pretty pansy then I' 11 tye 

 Like stones some chain inchasing ; 

 And next to them, their near ally, 

 The purple violet placing. 

 The curious choice clove July-flower, 

 Whose kinds, hight the carnation, 

 For sweetness of most sovereign power 

 Shall help my wreath to fashion; 

 Whose sundry colours of one kind, 

 First from one root derived, 

 Them in their several suits I '11 bind, 

 My garland so contrived : 

 A course of cowslips then I '11 stick, 

 And here and there (though sparely) 

 The pleasant primrose down I '11 prick, 

 Like pearls which will show rarely ; 

 Then with these marygolds I '11 make 

 My garland somewhat swelling, 

 These honeysuckles then I '11 take, 

 Whose sweets shall help their smelling. 



