68 POETICAL LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
what wisdom is uttered by “ those green-robed senators 
of mighty woods.” Titania and her fairy train may 
yet haunt many a bank 
“ Whereon the wild thyme blows, 
Where ox-lips and the nodding violet grows ; 
Quite o’ercanopied with lush woodbine, 
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.” 
The White Water-lily is the Queen of the Waves, 
and reigns sole sovereign over the streams ; and it was 
a species of Water-lily which the old Egyptians and 
ancient Indians worshiped—the most beautiful object 
that was held sacred in their superstitious creed — and 
one which we cannot look upon even now without 
* 
feeling a delight mingled with reverence. No flower 
looks more lovely than this “ Lady of the Lake,” rest¬ 
ing her crowned head on a green throne of velvet, and 
looking down into the depths of her own sky-reflecting 
realms, watching the dance, as her attendant water- 
nymphs keep time to the rocking of the ripples, and 
the dreamy swaying of the trailing water-streams. 
Whether or not this Queen of the Waters retires to 
her own crystal dominions after sunset, and sleeps in 
her silver palace beneath the ripples, seems to be a 
