AMARYLLIS FAMILY 



The flower has an exquisite grace, a kind of spiritual beauty, 

 and about its golden and radiant head has gathered a halo frotti 

 the ages. It has touched the imagination and moved the hearts 

 of the English people from most ancient times. The Anglo-Saxon 

 name is music in itself, af-fa-dyl-le — with every vowel sounded. 

 English children chant in English meadows to-day, as they did 

 three hundred years ago: < 



Daffy-down-dilly, just come to town 

 With a. yellow petticoat and a green gown. 



Shakespeare knew the daffodils,,. 



That come before the swallow dares, and take 

 The winds of March with beauty. 



And Milton wrote: 



And daffodillies fill thpir cups with tears, 



To strew the laureate hearse where Lycid lies. 



Wordsworth gives the modem touch; when, wandering "lonely 

 as a cloud," the daffodils 



Stretched in never-ending line 

 Along the margin of a bay: 

 Ten thousand saw I, at a glance, 

 Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. 



The waves beside them danced, but they 



Outdid the sparkling waves in glee: 

 A poet could not but be gay, 



In such a jocund company; 

 I gazed — and gazed — but little thought 

 What wealth the show to me had brought; ^' 



For oft, when on my couch I lie. 



In vacant or in pensive mood. 

 They flash upon that inward eye 



Which is the bliss of solitude. 

 And then my heart with pleasure fills,^ 

 And dances with the daffodils. 

 64 



