LOVE AND THE FLOWERS 
2-79 
The Liiy blushed as he drew near, and across her 
pearly whiteness stole a crimson shadow, as if a winged 
rose had hovered above her for a moment and then passed 
©n ; and with downcast eyes she told him that to her 
belonged Purity of Heart, that she was once so holy a 
sanctuary that even angels had deigned to dwell with her, 
and in their love for so spotless an abode had forfeited 
the domains of heaven. 
The Forget-me-not uplifted her blue eyes as he ap- 
proached, and said that she had never forgotten him, but 
had waited in patience and silence many an age for his 
coming; that although her lips were sealed she held fond 
communion with her own heart, and that she never looked 
up to the stars but they bade her hope; that she was still 
as true to Love as the blue heaven that bent over her 
when first the m.orning stars sang together for joy. 
The timid Violet shrank amid her broad leaves as she 
heard the approaching flutter of his wings; and long did 
Love linger around her, and sigh as he hung over her 
beauty. At last she looked up, and told him that her 
home was the abode of Modesty, that she seldom ven- 
tured forth into the world, that those who loved her 
sought out her solitude, for she coveted not the gaze of 
a stranger’s eye, nor loved to parade her beauty abroad 
amongst the blossoms; for there were those amongst the 
children of men who, forgetful of all modesty, peeped 
under her face, and looked into her downcast eyes. 
The Daisies rose up to welcome him, and gathered 
together in thousands to witness his approach. They 
made him a couch of their starry coronets ; they embraced 
him with their green arms, and looked fondly upon him 
with their golden eyes, as they told him, in sweet, un- 
studied syllables, that they were the daughters of Inno- 
cence. And as Love gazed tenderly upon them, he felt 
a hushed and holy awe about his heart, such as had never 
touched those innocent flowers, that for ever remain in 
their childhood. 
Filled with sad and pleasing Thoughts, which gathered 
around him whilst he slept beside a bed of Pansies, he 
awoke and winged his way to a grey old ruined fortress, 
thinking that he there might ponder over the lessons he 
had learnt from the flowers. But on the m.ouldering 
