ORCHIDS. 47 
Our readers will not fail to see that constant eulogium is 
offered to the flowers of the royal family of plants, — without 
taking much notice of the Stace and elegant finish of their leaves. 
Before dismissing, therefore, our notice of the Phalzenopsis, — 
which is notable for the elegance of its leaves, — we may read the 
quaint reasons for doing honor to the « leafe,” rather than to the 
’ given in the poem which has been universally but wrongly 
attributed to Chaucer. 
“foure, 
The poet, who imitates the manner of Chaucer, but not his 
melody nor his wit, represents that “a Gentlewoman out of an 
arbour in a grove seeth a great companie of Knights and Ladies 
in a daunce upon the greene grasse ;” the which being ended, they 
all kneele downe and do honour to the daisie, — some to the flower 
and some to the leafe.* 
In which were okés great, Streight as a line, 
Under the which the grasse so fresh of hew 
Was newly sprong, and an eight foot or nine, 
Every tree well fro his fellow grew 
With branches brode, laden with levés new 
That sprongen out ayen the sunné-shene, 
Some very red, and some a glad light grene. 
“ Now faire madame,” quoth I, “yet I would pray 
Your ladiship, if that it mighté be 
That I might knowé by some maner way, 
Sith that it hath likéd your beaute, 
The trouth of these ladies for to tell me; 
What that these knightés be in rich armour, 
And what tho be in grene and weare the flour? 
* The Flower and the Leaf. 
