TASTE IN FOWERS. 
391 
guage, has already been lavished on the lowliest, simplest flower—the 
daisy :* nothing remains then, to devote to the gay and gorgeous 
strangers that astonish modern eyes. Our poets may imitate, they 
cannot originate anything in language so exquisite as Chaucers. 
Our poets may admire;—but where shall we look for a description 
of doting love for a favourite flower, to compare with those that are 
scattered through his works P 
Many hundred readers have dwelled with delight upon the lines 
by Wordsworth “to the daisy,” and beautiful they are; but how 
poor—how lukewarm—how insipid, when put in comparison with 
the out-pourings of our glorious old poet! Thus he writes in his 
" Legend of good women.” 
“ Now have I this condition f 
That of all the flowers of the mead, 
I best love those flowers white and red, 
Such as men call day’s eyes in our town : 
To them I have so great affection, 
As I said before, when coming in is May, 
That in my bed there dawneth me no day 
That I’m not up, and walking in the mead, 
To see this flower against the sun spread, 
When he upriseth early by the morrow : 
That blissful sight, softeneth all my sorrow. 
So glad am I when that I have presence 
Of it, to do it all reverence. 
It is of all flowers—the flower: 
Always fair and fresh of hue; 
And ever shall I love it, and find it new; 
And ever shall till my heart shall die. 
t t t f- • 
And when it is evening I blithely run 
As soon as the sun beginneth to go west, 
To see how this flower will go to rest. 
t t f t- 
Its cherej is plainly spread in the brightness 
Of the sun; for in that it will unclose: 
Alas ! that I had English rhyme or prose 
Sufficient, for this flower to praise aright! 
t t t t-- 
My busy spirit that thirsteth always new 
To see this flower so young and fresh of hue, 
Constrained me with such greedy desire 
That in my heart I yet feel the fire 
That made me rise e’er it was day; 
* Day’s Eye. 
+ To avoid taking too much space in the Register , I have given only a free translation , 
omitting the original, in its primitive and simple dress. 
* Countenance. 
