SYRINGA. 363 



but it is doubtful whether he alludes to the species called 

 the Mock-orange : 



" The sweet syringa, yielding but in scent 

 To the rich orange ; or the woodhine wild, 

 That loves to hang on barren boughs remote 

 Her wreaths of flowery perfume." 



Some readers have supposed Mason's meaning to have 

 been, yielding in scent but to the rich orange, &c. and 

 even then, he can scarcely be thought to do justice to the 

 Syringa, if he means this species. 



The lilac tree is called Syringa by the botanists, but has 

 no connexion with this Syringa. Cowper mentions both, 

 and the lines are so much to the purpose here, that although 

 a part of the passage has been quoted in another part of 

 the work, we must be allowed to repeat it : 



-" Laburnum, rich 



In streaming gold; syringa, ivory pure; 



The scentless, and the scented rose ; this red, 



And of an humbler growth, the other tall, 



And throwing up into the darkest gloom 



Of neighbouring cypress, or more sable yew, 



Her silver globes, light as the foamy surf 



That the wind severs from the broken wave ; 



The lilac, various in array, now white, 



Now sanguine, and her beauteous head now set 



With purple spikes pyramidal, as if 



Studious of ornament, yet unresolved 



Which hue she most approved, she chose them all." 



It is very singular that Cowper makes no mention of the 

 fragrance of the Syringa. Nothing can be more just than 

 his description as far as it goes ; but its exquisite beauty 

 deserved more lingering over : had it been less beautiful, 

 probably, more might have been said of its sweetness. 

 Few flowers are more worthy of a poet's pen. 



