The bloffoms of the Cowflip, in its wild ftate, ufually hang to one fide; this appearance has in part been, 
noticed even by Poets (who, in general, have’ not fufficiently attended to the works of Nature) thus THomson 
in his Seafons, Spring, line 443. j^ 
Then feek tbe bank where flowering Elders crowd, 
Where fcattered wild the Lily of the vale 
Its balmy effence breathes, where COWSLIPS HANG 
THE DEWY HEAD, where purple Violets lurk. 
And Mirrow, in his Lyeidas, 
Bring the rathe primrofe that forfaken dies, 
The tufted crow-toe, and pale jeffamine, 
The white pink, and the panfie freakt with jet, 
The glowing violet, 
The mufk-rofe, and the well-attired woodbine, 
WirH CowsLIPS WAN THAT HANG THE PENSIVE HEAD, 
And every flower that fad embroidery wears : 
Bid amaranthus all bis beauty fhed, 
And daffadilhes fill their cups with tears, 
To flrew the laureat hearfe where Lycid hes. 
We have here quoted more than was barely neceffary for our purpofe, as it gives us an opportunity of juftifying 
the remark above made; the glaring anachronifm, if we may be allowed the expreffion, in the blowing of fuch 
plants, as Poets frequently bring together, has often appeared to us highly reprehenfible, efpecially in thof 
whofe grand defign has been to reprefent the appearances, the ceconomy, and the wonders of Nature in elegant 
verfe; every lad educated in the country knows that the Violet, the Cowflip, and the Elder, flower at very 
diftant periods ; it is therefore extraordinary that Tuomson, above all others, fhould group fuch plants, when | 
innumerable others prefented thenifelves: from Mitton fuch accuracy was not perhaps to be expected; we 
are not therefore, to be much furprifed at his bringing together the Primrofe and the ‘Feffamine, the produce of 
{pring and fummer. 
Thefe remarks are not offered from a fondnefs for criticifm, or from a defire of detraéting from works which 
have afforded us fuch exquifite pleafure; nor are thefe felected as the only authors in which fuch anachronifms 
are to be met with, they abound in moft poetry, and fhould, as much as poffible, be avoided ; for though they 
may not be noticed by the generality of readers, they muft be regarded as blemifhes at leaft by fuch as are 
accuftomed to view the works of nature with any degree of accuracy. 
We notice with more pleafure an inflance, the reverfe of what we have thought it our duty to cenfure : 
SuHAKESPEAR has defcribed the bloffoms of the Cowflip with a degree of accuracy almoft botanical, and has 
fhewn how pleafing the moft trifling appearances in natural hiftory may be rendered by an imagination like his, 
The Cow/lips tall, her penfioners be, 
In their gold coats [pots you fee, 
Thofe be rubies, fairy favours, 
In thofe freckles live their favours, 
I muft go feek fome dew drops bere, 
And hang a pearl in every Cowflip’s ear. 
The bloffoms of this plant, in point of colour, are pleafingly and truly contrafted by Mitton: 
| The YELLOW CowsLip, and the pare Primrose. 
Linn £us gave to this plant, which he regarded as a mere variety of the Primrofe, the name of officinalis, and 
which Profeffor Jacquin, and many other refpeétable Botanifts, confidering it as a fpecies, have continued; it 
being more frequently ufed in medicine than any other of the genus. — . 
* Cowllip flowers have a moderately ftrong, pleafant fmell, and a fomewhat roughifh, bitterifh tafte, both which 
they impart, together with a yellow tin&ure, to watery and to fpirituous menftrua. Vinous liquors impregnated 
with their flavour, by maceration, or fermentation, and {trong infufions of them drank as tea, are fuppofed to be 
mildly corroborant, antifpafmodic, and anodyne. | An infufion of three pounds of the.frefh flowers in five pints 
of boiling water, is made in the fhops into a fyrup of a fine yellow colour, and agreeably impregnated with 
the flavour of the Cowflips.” Lewis M. Med. ed. Aik. ; 
Many good houfewives in the country are in the practice of making a wine with Cowflip flowers, to be ufed 
rather as a medicine than an exhilarant ; for a general opinion prevails, that they poffefs a fomniferous quality ; 
hence, Pore, in his imitations of Horace’s Sarrres, fays ludicroully, 
If the nights feem tedious—take a wife, 
Or rather, truly, if your point be reft, 
Lettuce and Cow/lip wine—Probatum eft. - 
In the Gentleman’s Magazine, Vol. 58. there are fome pleafing lines on the Cowflip, by a gentleman of 
the name of Homer, whole poetical effufions have often enriched that valuable Mifcellany ; with an extract 
from which we fhall clofe our account of this plant, 
Cowflip, of all belov'd, of all admird, ; 
Thee let me fing, the homely fhepherd’s pride ; 
Fit emblem of the maid I love, a form 
Gladdening the fight of man; a {weet perfume, 
Sending its balmy fragrance to the foul. 
Daughter of Spring and meffenger of May, 
Which fhall I firft declare, which moft extol, 
Thy fovereign beauties, or thy fovereign ufe ? 
With thee the rural dame a draught prepares, 
A ne@arous draught, more lufcious to my tafte 
Than all thy boafted trafh, vine-nurturing France. 
Maidens with thee their auburn treffes braid ; 
Or, with the daify and the primrofe pale, 
Thy flowers entwining, weave a chaplet fa, | 
'To grace that pole round which the village train | 
Lead on their dance to greet the jocund May ; And Cowflip-garlands every ruftic hat: 
Jocund Ill call it, for it lends a {mile $ Who that has eyes to fee or heart to feel, 
‘To thee, who never fmilfl but once a year; é Would change this fimple wreath which fhepherds wear, 
[name thee not, thou poor unpitied wretch! Ev'n for that golden circle which furrounds 
OF all defpis'd*, fave him whofe liberal heart © $ The temples of a ling? 
* The Chimney-Sweeper. 
Taught him to feel your wrongs, and plead your caufe, 
Departed HAN WAY Peace be to his foul! 
9 Great is that man who quits the path of fame, 
$ Who, wealth forfaking, ftoops his towering mind 
From learning's heights, and ftretches out his arm 
à To raife from duft the meaneft of his kind. 
9 Now that the Mufe to thee her debt has paid, 
à Friend of the poor and guardian of the wrong, 
® Back let her pleas'd return, to view thofe fports, 
Whofe rude fimplicity has charms for me 
Beyond the ball or midnight mafquerade : 
Oft on that merry morn I’ve join their throng, 
A glad fpeGator; oft their uncouth dance 
Ey'd moft attentive; when, with tawdry fhew, . 
Ili-forted ribbons deck’d each maiden’s cap, 

DOO OO CO OC 
ee 
