The Wallachians have a superstition 

 that every flower has a soul, and that 

 the water-lily, sweet and stainless, 

 blooms at the gate of Paradise to judge 

 the rest and to inquire strictly what 

 they have done with their odours. 



It is said in the Rhine district that if 

 you gather a water-lily, repeating some 

 magic verses, it will keep witches away. 



Our own fair land is peculiarly rich 

 in these water nymphs or water-lilies, 

 for it is the only country where may 

 be found blooming white, yellow, pink 

 and blue water-lilies. Row but once 

 down some stream where these sweet 

 flowers grow, before sunrise. You 

 will fmd naught but the floating leaves 

 pricked here and there by the pointed 

 green buds. Overthesame stream row 

 once again when the sun is coming up 

 warm and golden, and see the lilies burst 

 open, clothing the surface of the water 

 with a field of fragrant whiteness. 

 85 



