242 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. V. 



atonement, added the following rude rhymes on her own name, 

 not knowing what subject to choose as likely to please her. 

 Had Lillie been her maiden name, or her husband been living, 

 I could have called her bride or daughter, which would have 

 been more poetical ; the first line is necessarily lame in conse- 

 quence of her being a widow. Perhaps I chose a painful sub- 

 ject, as I have since thought, but I hope not." 



RHYMES FOR MRS. LILLIE. 



'' Thou art a fair flower graffed among the lilies, 

 Sister or near friend of the rich amaryllis, 

 And the golden-crested tall daffodillies, 



Spring's early flowers ; 

 The narcissus is of kin to thee 



Bending his proud stem 



Crowned by a diadem : 

 Children love to see 



Round the calyx cup, the rosy ring, 



And kings in vain might bring, 



As an equal offering, 



Their costly crowns. 

 The floating lotus on the face 



Of some Egyptian lake, 



Trailing glories in her wake, 

 As the Princess of thy race 



Hath of old renowned been ; 



The poet dreameth to have seen 



Her enthroned as the queen 



Of the Lily flowers. 

 The lily of the valley is a modest thing, 



And dares not to look up 



From her tiny flowercup 

 When the sun is shining ; 



But the water-lily is a brave flower, 



And feareth neither wind nor shower, 



But owneth the eagle's power 



To look at the sun. 

 More I'd sing of, were I dutiful, 



To name thy sister flowers, 



But this transcends my powers. 

 Some are grander, none more beautiful 



Than the water-lily, all night bathing 



Her petals, hidden in the swathing 



Leaves, that keep from scathing 



Its every charm. 

 May such a fate be thine, to find 



In darkness and the hour of sorrow 



A hiding-place until the morrow, 

 Casting the shadows far behind, 



