Itlaijsj. 39 
And thou, so rich in gentle names, appealing 
To hearts that own our nature’s common lot; 
Thou, styled by sportive Fancy’s better feeling 
A Thought, the Heart’s-Ease, and Forget-me-not. 
Barton. 
Daisy. . ..Innocence. 
Shakspeare speaks of the Daisy as the flower 
Whose white investments figure innocence; 
and succeeding poets have generally used it as the 
image of that pure quality. Fable informs us that the 
Daisy owes its origin to Belides, one of the Dryads, 
who were supposed to preside over meadows and pas¬ 
tures. While dancing on the turf with Ephigeus, 
whose suit she encouraged, she attracted the admira¬ 
tion of Yertumnus, the deity who presided over orchards; 
and, to escape from him, she was transformed into the 
humble flower, the Latin name of which is Beilis. The 
ancient English name of the flower was Day’s Eye, of 
which Daisy is a corruption. In Ossian’s poems, the 
Daisy is called the flower of the new-born—most ex¬ 
pressive of innocence. 
When smitten by the morning ray, 
I see thee rise alert and gay, 
Then, cheerful flower ! my spirits play 
With kindred gladness: 
And when, at dark, by dews opprest, 
Thou sink’st, the image of thy rest 
Hath often eased my pensive breast 
Of careful sadness. 
Wordsworth. 
