FABLES OF FLOUA. 43 
The English name of this flower is a corrup¬ 
tion of the French Dent-de-leon, signifying the 
tooth of the lion , from some fancied resemblance 
discovered in the notches of its leaves. Though 
a very common and humble flower, the poet of 
peris and gems has not deemed it unworthy of 
notice. 
• She, enamoured of the sun, 
At his departure hangs her head and weeps, 
And shrouds her sweetness up, and keeps 
Sad vigils, like a cloistered nun, 
Till his reviving ray appears, 
Waking her beauty as he dries her tears.’ 
Mooke. 
The dandelion is called ‘ one of Flora’s time¬ 
keepers.’ It is also characterized thus — 
‘Dandelion —a college youth, that flashes for a day.’ 
But the best description we find in the following 
lines, whose author we do not know. 
\ 
1 Lcontoclons unfold 
On the swarth turf their ray-encircled gold; 
With Sol’s expanding beam the flowers unclose, 
And rising Hesper lights them to repose; 
