72 
LANGUAGE AND 
COWSLIP. 
Dodecatheon . Class 5 ; Order J. 
WINNING GRACE.—YOUTHFUL BEAUTY. 
She grew in love. Around her infant home 
Life hung its summer hues, and very fair 
Was this wild earth to her. She learned to roam 
In artless radiance where the woodland air 
Showered trembling sweetness on the glancing streams, 
And stole its hue from sunset’s golden beams. 
She twined the orchis in her hazel hair, 
And stole the violets from the brook-side dell: 
The wilding race was her peculiar care, 
Her dearest music was the fox-glove’s bell, 
When the wild bee with his transparent wings 
Stirs the sweet air, and makes believe he sings. 
This elegant but fragile flower is one of those 
favorites which the olden poets so delighted to 
honor. The “ pale cowslip fit for maidens’ early 
bier,” is the most appropriate emblem for 
youthful beauty; and, under that typical mean¬ 
ing, is frequently found associated in the songs 
of our minstrels with all that is fair and frail. 
Milton takes advantage of the gracefulness 
of its drooping plume of blossoms, waving over 
their slender stem, to place upon the tomb of 
