242 
PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
vulgaris , but that is perhaps not to be wondered at, as nearly 
all the old botanists applied that name to the Daisy. But 
neither is it much noticed by any English name. I can only 
find it in two of the vocabularies. In an English Vocabulary 
of the fourteenth century is “ Haec pimpinella, A e primerolle,” 
but it is very doubtful if this can be our Primrose, as the 
Pimpernel of old writers was the Burnet. Gower mentions it 
as the flower of the star Canis Minor—• 
“ His stone and herbe as saitli the scole 
Ben Achates and Primerole.” 
Conf. Aman. lib. sept. (3. 130. Paulli). 
And in the treatise of Walter de Biblesworth (thirteenth 
century) is— 
“ Primerole et primeveyre (cousloppe) 
Sur tere aperunt en terns de veyre.” 
I should think there is no doubt this is our Primrose. Then 
we have Chaucer’s description of a fine lady— 
“ His schos were laced on hir legges hyghe, 
Sche was a Primerole, a piggesneyghe 
For any lord have liggyng in his bedde, 
Or yet for any gode yeman to wedde.” 
The Milleres Tale. 
I have dwelt longer than usual on the name of this flower, 
because it gives us an excellent example of how much literary 
interest may be found even in the names of our common 
English plants. 
But it is time to come from the name to the flower. The 
English Primrose is one of a large family of more than fifty 
species, represented in England by the Primrose, the Oxlip, the 
Cowslip, and the Bird’s-eye Primrose of the North of England 
and Scotland. All the members of the family, whether British 
or exotic, are noted for the simple beauty of their flowers, but 
in this special character there is none that surpasses our own. 
“ It is the very flower of delicacy and refinement; not that it 
shrinks from our notice, for few plants are more easily seen 
