DAISY. 51 
DAISY. 
NNOCEXCE. 
Fabulous history informs us that the Daisy- 
owed its origin to Belides, one of the nymphs called 
Dryads, who were supposed to preside over meadows 
and pastures. While dancing on the turf with 
Ephigeus, whose suit she encouraged, she attracted 
the admiration of Vertumnus, the deity who presided 
over orchards ; and to escape from him, she was 
transformed into the humble flower, the Latin name 
of which is Bellis. The ancient English name of 
this flower was Day's Eye, in which way it is writ- 
ten by Ben ' Jonson ; and Chaucer calls it the " ee 
of the daie." No doubt it received this designation 
from its habit of closing its petals at night, which it 
also does in rainy weather. 
The Daisy has always been a favourite with 
poets. Shakspeare speaks of it as the flower 
Whose white investments figure innocence. 
