AZALEAS. 123 



" What are these fairies ?" to myself I said ; 

 For answer, then, as from a garden's bed. 

 On the cold air, a sudden scent was shed — 

 Scent of lilies, scent of roses, 

 Scent of Summer's sweetest posies. 



And said a small sweet voice within my ear, 

 " We flowers that sleep through winter, once a year 

 Are by our flower queen let to visit here ; 

 That this fact may duly flout us— 

 Gardens can look fair without us. 



" A very little time we have to play. 

 Then must we go, oh, very far away. 

 And sleep again for many a long, long day. 

 Till the glad birds sing above us. 

 And the warm sun comes to love us. 



" Hark what the roses sing, now, as we go." 

 Then very sweet and soft, and very low — 

 A dream of sound across the garden snow — 



Came the sound of roses singing 



To the lily-bell's faint ringing. 



