Shakespeare mentions it many times 

 over, and when in its progress round 

 the globe it reaches Scotland, its name 

 changes entirely and it becomes gowan. 

 Milton, who uses his knowledge of 

 flowers so constantly, has in " Comus " 

 this passage : — 



" The sounds and seas, with all their funny drove, 

 Now to the moon in wavering morrice move ; 

 And on the tawny sands and shelves 

 Trip the pert fairies and the dapper elves. 

 By dimpled brook, and fountain brim, 

 The wood-nymphs deck'd with daisies trim. 

 Their merry wakes and pastimes keep." 



Burns has it, in " Auld Lang Syne," 



" We twa hae run about the braes, 

 An' pu'd the gowans fine." 



In " Guy Mannering " Scott speaks 

 of these little flowers also, — 



"They [the sheets] were washed 

 with the fairy- well water, and bleached 

 on the bonnie white gowans, and 

 beetled by Nelly and hersell." 



There is a curious phrase, which 

 almost comes under the head of slang, 

 167 



