242 
POETRY OF FLOWERS. 
Closed was my heart, nor gave one bud of love 
To glorify its bounteous Lord above. 
But sorrow came, and summer friends departed, 
Then at the throne of grace I learned to kneel, 
And now, aroused from sloth, and fervent-hearted 
The holy glow of gratitude I feel, 
And those sweet leaves in darkness have unfurl’d 
lhat shunned the gaudy splendour of the world. 
A NOSEGAIE ALWAIES SWEET, 
FOR LOVERS TO SEND FOR TOKENS OF LOVE, AT 
NEW YERES TIDE, OR FOR FAIRINGS AS THEY 
IN THEIR MINDS SHALL BE DISPOSED TO WRITE. 
-1584. * 
A NOSEGAIE lacking flowers fresh. 
To you now I do send, 
Desiring you to look thereon. 
When that you may intend: 
For flowers fresh begin to fade, 
And Boreas in the field. 
Even with his hard congealed frost. 
No better flowers doth yield. 
But if that winter could have sprung 
A sweeter flower than this, 
1 would have sent it pre.sently 
To you withouten misso. 
