HAWTHORX. 163 



The Hawthorn will grow many years in a pot or tub, 

 and require no other care than watering it occasionally in 

 dry weather, and removing it into a larger pot as it out- 

 grows the old one. 



The scent of the May-blossom is proverbially sweet. 

 How much is said in praise both of its beauty and sweet- 

 ness in the following couplet ! 



fc A bush of May-flowers with the bees about them ; 

 Ah, sure no tasteful nook would be without them !" 



KEATS. 



Chaucer frequently speaks of the Hawthorn : 



" There sawe I growing eke the freshe hauthorne 

 In white motley, that so sote doeth ysmell." 



COMPLAINT OF THE BLACK KNIGHT. 



In the celebration of May-day, in the Court of Love, 

 he says: 



'' And furth goth all the Courte both most and lest 

 To fetche the flouris freshe, and braunch and blome, 

 And namely hauthorne brought both page and grome, 

 With fresh garlandis, party blew and white, 

 And than rejoysin in their grete delight." 



" Amongst the many buds proclaiming May, 

 (Decking the fields in holiday's array, 

 Striving who shall surpasse in bravery) 

 Marke the faire blooming of the hawthorne-tree ; 

 Who, finely cloathed in a robe of white, 

 Feeds full the wanton eye with May's delight ; 

 Yet for the bravery that she is in 

 Doth neyther handle carde nor wheele to spin, 

 Nor changeth robes but twice, is never scene 

 In other colors than in white or greene. 

 Learn then content, young shepherd, from this tree, 

 Whose greatest wealth is Nature's livery." 



" All the trees are quaintly tyred 

 With greene buds of all desired ; 

 And the hauthorne every day 

 Spreads some little show of May. 



M 2 



