131 
HOPE. 
HAWTHORN. 
Now hawthorns blossom, now the daisies spring. 
POPE. 
Now, all nature is enlivened with hope and 
with joy; the swallow has returned to us once 
more, and the nightingale warbles her en¬ 
chanting songs in the neighbouring thickets, 
announcing the duration of fine weather, — 
Around the hawthorn flings its rich perfume! 
Poor vine-dressers ! now be assured the cold 
frosts shall not again destroy the tender vine 
buds, the hope of your long and careful la¬ 
bours. Happy labourers ! the rude north 
wind shall not blight your verdant plains; 
but the sun shall gild them with his genial 
rays, and ripen the fruit ye seek for. 
The hawthorn has been made the emblem 
of hope, because the young and beautiful 
Athenian maids brought its branches, cover¬ 
ed with flowers, to decorate their companions 
on their nuptial day, whilst they bare larger 
boughs of it to the altar. The altar of Hy¬ 
men was lighted by torches made from the 
wood of this tree; and it also formed the 
flambeaux which illuminated the nuptial 
chamber. We are told that the Troglodytes, 
in the simplicity of their minds, tied haw- 
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