210 
PHEASANT’S EYE. 
There poppies white, and violets, 
Alcippus on the altar sets 
Of quiet sleep ; and weaves a crown 
To bring the gentle godhead down. 
FRACASTORO. 
THE PHEASANT’S EYE; OR FLOS ADONIS. 
Adonis was killed by a boar when hunting. Venus, 
who had quitted the pleasures of Cythereus for his sake, 
shed many tears at his melancholy fate. The fable tells 
us that these were not lost, but mingling with the blood 
of Adonis, the earth received them, and forthwith sprang 
up a light plant covered with purple flowers. Brilliant and 
transient flowers; alas! too faithful emblems of the plea¬ 
sures of life ! you were consecrated by the same beauty 
as the symbol of sorrowful remembrances. 
Look, in the garden blooms the flos adonis, 
And memory keeps of him who rashly died, 
Thereafter changed by Venus, weeping, to this flower. 
ANON. 
Bv this the boy, that by her side lay kill’d, 
Was melted like a vapour from her sight; 
And in his blood, that on the ground lay spill’d, 
A purple flower sprang up, chequer’d with white. 
SHAKSPEARE. 
