2 THE BOOK OF THE DAFFODIL 



modating persistence they bloom in succession for nearly 

 a quarter of the year — i.e. (in ordinary seasons) from the 

 beginning of March to the middle of May — without 

 exacting from us any trouble and expense in supplying 

 them with artificial heat ; when cut their flowers (most 

 of them) last in water for ten days, or even more ; and 

 although there is a certain amount of truth in the objec- 

 tion that it is easy from a large collection to pick out a 

 number of sorts which are rather similar in character, 

 it is still easier to select a very large number which are 

 far more distinct from each other than rose from rose 

 and carnation from carnation. Their elegance, grace 

 and beauty are ravishing. The Narcissus may truly be 

 called the king of the spring garden, and all who have 

 a garden should do homage in his court, and at the same 

 time satisfy their own love of the beautiful by growing 

 a well-chosen collection. 



In admiring the Narcissus we are in very good com- 

 pany, and in very ancient company too. Undoubtedly 

 known and prized from the earliest times all over the 

 south and east of Europe, and throughout North Africa, 

 and, as to the Tazetta section, to the farthest east, its 

 praises have been sung by the greatest poets of antiquity 

 from the time of Homer downwards. 



In the " Hymn to Demeter" there is a fine description 

 of Narcissus Tazetta which is quoted at the head of this 

 chapter. 



The same variety is described by Sophocles in his 

 " ffidipus at Colonus," as also quoted above. 



Ovid recites the legendary story of the tragic death 

 of the beautiful youth Narcissus, how, as he lay on the 

 grass by the waterside, he had vainly fallen in love with 

 his own image reflected from the smooth surface of the 

 water ; how he pined and died of his hopeless love, and 

 how the nymphs when they sought his body for burial 

 " only found a rising stalk with yellow blossoms 



