THE COWSLIP. 
PRIMULA VERIS. 
- “ rich in vegetable gold 
From calyx pale the freckled cowslip born, 
Receives in amber cups the fragrant dews of morn.” 
Few flowers have obtained more poetic homage than 
the cowslip. Skakspeare has immortalised it in many 
passages, but more especially in the well-known lines, 
“ The cowslips tall her pensioners be, 
In their gold coats spots we see, 
These be rubies, fairy favours, 
In those freckles live their savours.” 
Its growing on a tall upright stem probably sug¬ 
gested to him the idea of giving it a place in the court 
of his Fairy Queen, in allusion to the tall military 
courtiers called Queen Elizabeth’s pensioners. It seems, 
however, of a very plastic character, assuming every 
appearance fancy wills. Milton, when he would “ strew 
the laureat hearse where Lycid lies,” speaks of 
“ Cowslips wan that hang the pensive head.” 
b ;3 
