38 THE FLOWER VASE. 
COLUMBINE. 
Aquilegia. Class 13. — Order 5. 
This flower is well known. The wild Columbine of 
New England is of a bright red; those in our gardens are 
white, purple, pink, etc. 
I cannot give thee up. 
Oh, blame me not that unto thee I pour 
The lavish treasures of unfathomed love; 
’T is, dear one, but to plead with thee, no more 
To bid me crush what has its root above. 
I shall die gently ’neath its shadowy spell, 
And thou shalt know that one hath loved thee well. 
Mistake me not; nor let one shadow fall 
Upon thy heart, already worn with pain; 
Let me but love thee, serve thee ; this is all; 
Grant me but this, and I am strong again ; 
Strong —for to love thee, though thou art not mine, 
Is to my homeless heart an altar and a shrine. 
