10 ILLUSTRATIVE EXTRACTS. 



His defects are those of the age in which he lived ; 

 the beauty and truth of his pictures are his own." 



To show the justness of this remark, only look at 

 the enumeration of flowers in Milton's Lycidas, and 

 that of Shakspeare in the Winter's Tale. In the 

 former we have, among " vernal flowers," many of 

 those which are the off^spring of Midsummer. The 

 musk-rose, the woodbine, and the amaranthus of a 

 still more advanced season, are grouped with the 

 daff'odil, the primrose, and the violet of early spring. 



' Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies, 

 The tufted crow-toe, and pale jessamine, 

 Tlie white pink, and the pansy freak'd with jet, 

 The glowing violet. 



The musk-rose, and the well attired woodbine, 

 With cowslips wan, that hang the pensive head, 

 And every flower that sad embroidery wears ; 

 Bid amaranthus all his beauty shed. 

 And daffodillies fill their cups with tears. 

 To strew the laureat hearse where Lycid lies." 



In the Winter's Tale, Perdita presents the " flowers 

 of winter, rosemary and rue," to her reverend guests ; 

 "to men of middle age," are given the " flowers of 

 middle summer." 



" Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram, 

 The marigold, that goes to bed with the sun, 

 And with him rises weeping." — Act IV. Sc. 3. 



When she addresses her " fairest friend," her words 

 are 



" I would I had some flowers o' the spring, that might 

 Become your time of day ! " 



