ENGLISH PREFACE. 
x 
Primrose; for the Bard of Paradise has beautifully 
said,— 
“ The rathe Primrose that forsaken dies 
and we seldom see one bud alone on the root. So have I 
gone on through all my fanciful or poetical illustrations: 
either following the old poets, or gathering from the very 
nature of the flower some quality that represents the senti¬ 
ment I have attached to it. The subject has never before 
been taken up in the old poetical spirit: there are signs of 
a timid step and trembling hand, which betray a want of 
confidence in the task, as if it had not been a labor of love. 
I have proceeded without fear, and have adapted many “ an 
old-world story ” to the meanings of the flowers, which, I 
trust, will give pleasure to all my readers. 
THOMAS MILLER. 
