Nature

From Britannia's Pastorals: Flowers

by William Browne of Tavistock 1590–1645

From Pastoral Poetry (Pembroke Booklets)

Nature

The daisy scatter'd on each mead and down,
A golden tuft within a silver crown;
(Fair fall that dainty flower! and may there be
No shepherd grac'd that doth not honour thee!)
The primrose, when with six leaves gotten grace
Maids as a true-love in their bosoms place;
The spotless lily, by whose pure leaves be
Noted the chaste thoughts of virginity;
Carnations sweet with colour like the fire,
The fit impresas for inflam'd desire;
The harebell for her stainless azur'd hue
Claims to be worn of none but those are true;
The rose, like ready youth, enticing stands,
And would be cropp'd if it might choose the hands,
The yellow kingcup Flora them assign'd
To be the badges of a jealous mind;
The orange-tawny marigold: the night
Hides not her colour from a searching sight....
The columbine in tawny often taken,
Is then ascrib'd to such as are forsaken;
Flora's choice buttons of a russet dye
Is hope even in the depth of misery.

MLA

Tavistock, William Browne of. “From Britannia's Pastorals: Flowers.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/browne_w/6/.

Chicago

Tavistock, William Browne of. “From Britannia's Pastorals: Flowers.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/browne_w/6/.

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