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Without Thee, Lord, things be not what they be. 
Nor have they being, when compared with Thee. 
In having all things, and not Thee, ivhat have If 
Not having Thee, what have my labors got? 
Let me enjoy but Thee, ivhat further crave I? 
And having Thee alone, what have I not? 
I wish not sea nor land; nor would I be 
Possessed of Heaven, Heaven unpossessed by Thee.” 
The Narcissus has a snow-white flower, with a yellow 
cup in the center, fringed on the border with a brilliant 
crimson circlet. It is sweet-scented, and flowers in May. 
The cup in the center was fabled to contain the tears of the 
ill-fated Narcissus, a beautiful youth of Bceotia, of whom it had been fore¬ 
told that he should live happily until he beheld his own face. 
One day, when heated by the chase, Narcissus sought to quench his 
thirst in a stream; in so doing he beheld the reflection of his own features, 
of which he immediately became enamoured. ITe was spell-bound to the 
spot, where he pined to death, and was metamorphosed into the flower that 
now bears his name. 
Then on th’ unwholesome earth he gasping lies, 
Till death shuts up those self-admiring eyes. 
To the cold shades his flitting ghost retires, 
And in the Stygian waves itself admires. 
For him the Naiads and the Dryads mourn, 
Whom the sad Echo answers in her turn; 
And now the sister nymphs prepare his urn; 
When, looking for his corpse, they only found 
A rising stalk, with yellow blossoms crowned. 
— Addison. 
