Part 3 (1/2)
Der Mai ist da mit seinen goldnen Lichtern Und seinen Luften und gewurzten Duften, Und freundlich lockt er mit den weissen Bluthen, Und grusst aus tausend blauen Veilchenaugen.
--HEINRICH HEINE.
I only know That she was very true and good: The queenliest lily cannot match The shy, sweet violet of the wood.
--WEATHERLY.
Her bloom the rose outvies, The lily dares no plea, The violet's glory dies, No flower so sweet can be; When love is in her eyes What need of spring for me?
--ANNA MARIA FAY.
Who is there can sing of a more divine thing Than the edge of the woods in the edge of the spring, Ere the violets peep, while hepaticas sleep, And still in the hollows the snow-drifts lie deep?
--MILDRED G. PHILLIPS.
The erthe was ful softe and swete.
Through moysture of the welle wete Sp.r.o.ng up the sote grene, grene gras, As fayre, as thycke, as myster was.
But moche amended it the place That therthe was of such a grace That it of floures hath plente, That both in somer and wynter be.
There sprange the vyolet al newe, And fresshe pervynke ryche of hewe, And floures yelowe, white and rede; Such plente grewe there never in mede.
Ful gaye was al the grounde, and queynt, And poudred, as men had it peynt, With many a freshe and sondry floure That casten up ful good savoure.
--GEOFFREY CHAUCER.
Low lilies press about thy feet With violets changing kisses sweet.
--JANE AUSTIN.
Come up, come up, O soft spring airs, Come from your silver s.h.i.+ning seas, Where all day long you toss the wave About the low and palm-plumed keys!
For here the violet in the wood Thrills with the fulness you shall take, And wrapped away from life and love The wild rose dreams, and fain would wake.
--HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD.
CHAPTER THREE
Hear the rain whisper, ”Dear violet, come.”
--LUCY LARCOM.
CHAPTER THREE
The brown buds thicken on the trees, Unbound, the free streams sing, As March leads forth, across the leas, The wild and windy spring.
Where in the fields the melted snow Leaves hollows warm and wet, Ere many days will sweetly blow The first blue violet.
--ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN.