Mary gold . 
1 3 I 
is the daisy by those of France, and the aster by those of 
Germany, to determine whether they are beloved or not by the 
object of their thoughts. 
This flower excited more solemn reflections in the mind of 
George W ithers, who in his usual quaint manner thus moralizes 
over it: 
“When, with a serious musing, I behold 
The grateful and obsequious marygold, 
How duly every morning she displays 
Her open breast when Phoebus spreads his rays ; 
How she observes him in her daily walk, 
Still bending towards him her small slender stalk ; 
How, when he down declines, she droops and mourns, 
Bedew’d, as’t were, with tears till he returns ; 
And how she veils her flowers when he is gone, 
As if she scorn’d to be looked upon 
By an inferior eye, or did contemn 
To wait upon a meaner light than him. 
When this I meditate, methinks the flowers 
Have spirits far more generous than ours, 
And give us fair examples to despise 
The servile fawnings and idolatries 
Wherewith we court these earthly things below, 
Which merit not the service we bestow.” 
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