26 
POETICAL LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
dew from the up-coned Lilac, he gathered the topmost 
sprig and threw it at her unsuspecting lover, who from 
that moment dated his first Emotions of Love. He 
pointed out where many a blue-belled flower grew; 
there they met and vowed to be Constant unto Death: 
and while they sat hand-in-hand, gazing upon the white 
Water-Lilies on the lake, they felt that deep heaving of 
the heart which ever proclaimeth the Purity of Love. 
So he wandered along, and on wild moorlands, 
where rude huts rose, and scarce a flower broke the dark 
brown solitude, Love left the broad Fern as a token of 
Sincerity: on bleak mountain-tops, where scarce a tree 
I 
threw down its chequered shadow, he planted the 
Harebell, and the crimson Heather, to give a charm to 
Retirement and Solitude. Into the depths of the lone¬ 
liest woods he went, visiting deep dells and deserted 
dingles, where the graceful Lilies-of-the-Valley grew, 
telling them they were not forgotten, but should yet be 
proudly worn in many a fond breast that sighed for a 
Return of Happiness. Beside the Marigold, which j 
closed its eyes as if for very Sorrow, he planted the 
Celandine, and leaving the Hawthorn, Hope, to cheer 
them and keep watch, he promised that, while ever the 
Golden Star shone there, it should be the image of Joys 
