ill The bloflbms of the Cowflip, in its wild ftate, ufually hang to one fide; this appearance has f f H
nolced even by Poets (who,.in general, have not fufficiently attended to the works of Nature) thus f J
•in his Seafons, Sfrbtg, line 443- • . „ H i , . ‘Then feek the bank where flowering hlders a owa,
. Where flattered wild the Lily of the vale
Its balmy effence breathes, where C o w s l i p s h a n g
T h e d e w y h e a d , where purple Violets lurk*
And M i l t o n , in his Lycidas, . . I B ~ , »•
Bring the rathe primrofe that forfaken dies,
The tufted crow-toe, and pale jeffamine, ;
The white pink, and the panfle freakt with jet,
The glowing violet,
The mujk-rofe, and. the well-attired woodbine,
W i t h C o w s l i p s , w a n t h a t h a n g t h e . p e n s i v e h e a d ,
And every flower that fad embroidery wears : , .
Bid amaranthus all bis beauty Jhed,
And daffodillies fill their cups with tears,
To flrew the laureat hearfe where Lycid lies.
We have here quoted more than was barely neceffary for our purpofe, as it gives us an opportunity of jo M
^ e remark aL ve made • the glaring anachroniftn, if we may be allowed the expreffion n the blowing „ff
nlants ? Poetó frequent y bring together, has often appeared to us highly reprehenfible, efpecially
plants, as Poets trequen y » | f [he appearances, the oeconomy, and the wonders of Nature in el™.
knows that thé Violet, the ^Cowflip, and the Elder, flower ,tl
dSant S d s it is *erefore extraordinary that T homson, above all others, lhould group fitch plants ,
diitant per o , nrPrented themfelves : From Milton fuch accuracy was not perhaps to be expected.)
T t therefore! to be^nucli furprifed at his bringing together the Primrofe and tht je jam » ', the prod J
fPTTer“ tm a rk r£ en o t offered from a fondnefs for criticifm, or from a defire of detrafling from work »J
have a L d e d ns fudiexquifitepleafure'; nor are thefe feleSed as the only authors in which fuch anach,«,
are to be met with they abound in moft poetry, and fhould, as much as poffible be avoided; for thou«
Saynotb” noticed b / th e generality of readers they mutt be regarded as blemifhes at lead by fact »1
arriiftnined to view the works of nature with any degree or accuracy.
We^“o t ic f Jhhmore pleafure an inflance, the reverfe of what we have thought it our duty tore*
S h a k e s p e a r has drfcribePd the bloflbms of the Cowflip with a degree of accuracy almoft botanical and
t te tn how pleafing the moft trifling appearances, in natural hiftory may be rendered by an imagination like h
The Cowflips tall, her penfloners be,
In their gold coats fpots you fie,
Thofi be rubies, fairy favours,
In thofe freckles live their favours,
I mufl go feek fome dew drops here, ^
And hang a pearl in every Cowflip's ear.
The bloflbms of this plant, in point of colour, are pleafingly and truly contrafted by MiETONl
The y e l l o w C o w s l i p , and the p a l e P r im r o s e .
mÊimmmmMm
t . ™ s S nlant which he regarded as a mere variety of the Primrofe, the name of I
0ther tefpeftnb'e Botanifts, confidering it as a fpec.es, have conunadl W Ê Ê È Ê m S Ê Ê È Ê Ê Ê Ê È B Ê B ^ M
h en c e . P o p e , in his imitations o f Horaces Satires, fays lu d ic ro u ily ,
I f the nights feem tedious— take a wife,
Or rather, truly, i f your point be reft,
Lettuce and Cowflip wine— Probatum eft.
In the Gentleman’s Magazine, Vol.58 there are fome pleafi_ng fineson the B I B >7 ^ H j |
the name of H o m e r , whole poetical effufions have often enriched that valuable lVIilcenany ,
from which we fhall olofe our account of this plant.
Cowflip, of all belov’d, of all admir’d.
Thee let me ling, the homely fhepherd’s pride;
Fit emblem of the maid I love; a form
Gladdening the fight of man : a fweet perfume,
Sending its balmy fragrance to the foul.
Daughter of Spring and meffenger of May,
Which fhall I firft declare, which moft extol,
Thy fovereign beauties, or thy fovereign ufe ?
With thee the rural dame a draught prepares,.
A neHarous draught, more lufcious to my tafte
Than all thy boafted trafh, vine-nurturing France.
Maidens with thee their auburn trefles braid;
Or, with the daify and the primrofe pale,
Thy flowers entwining, weave a chaplet fair,
To grace that pole round which the village tram
Lead on their dance to greet thejocund'.May;
Jocund I’ll call it; for it lends a (mile;
To thee, who never fmil'ft but once a year ; .
I name thee not; thou poor unpitied wretch!
p f all defpis’.d* fave him whole liberal heart
4 Taught him to feel ybur wrongs, and plead y°"r tI
X Departed H a n w a y ------Peacd be “ his W - I 4 Great is that man who quits the path ot tamq ■
f Who, wealth forfaking, ftoops hisi tpwermg I
7 From learning’s heights, and ftretches ou
A To raife from dull the meaneft of his kmu. I
» Now that the Mufe to thee her debt has pai,
| Friend of the poor and guardian of the ' 8 I
A 3 ack let her pleas’d return,; ,to view thole p
A Whofe rude fimplicity has charms for me
?Beyond the ball or midnight mafquerade; ■ | oft on that merry morn I’ve join d their
$ A glad fpeHator; oft their uncouth da«* ■
A Ey a moft attentive; when,- with tawdry 1
X Ill-forted ribbons deck'd each maidens cap, j
A And Cowflip-garlands every ruftic hat, 2 Who that has eyes to fee or heart to W .
| Would change this fimple wreath which (hep
| Ev’n for that golden circle which furrou
$ The temples of a king ?
The Chimney-Sweeper.