The Violet Book Part 14

--MARY FREDERICK FAXON.

When eve had come, and thicker grew The shadows all the garden through, Beside the rose-embowered gate, Her laughter stilled. To speak, or wait-- Oh, beating heart, what should I do!

Long lashes hid her eyes of blue, Twin violets befringed with dew.

--SAMUEL MINTURN PECK.

I wonder if the violet felt Your presence when you gently knelt, And breathed for you its sweetest air Because you loved yet left it there.

--HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD.

O, were I yon violet, On which she is walking!

Or were I yon small bird, To which she is talking!

--ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

I asked a nodding violet, why It sadly hung its head.

It told me Cynthia late past by, Too soon from it that fled.

--MICHAEL DRAYTON.

Compa.s.sed all about with roses sweet And dainty violets from head to feet.

--EDMUND SPENSER.

Weep no more, nor sigh, nor groan, Sorrow calls no time that's gone: Violets plucked, the sweetest rain Makes not fresh nor grow again.

--SAMUEL FLETCHER.

On beds of violets blue And fresh-blown roses washed in dew.

--JOHN MILTON.

Over the river there lieth A city wondrous fair, And never the eye of a mortal Hath looked on the glories there.

The lilies grow by the rivers, Stately and fair they blow, And lift their balm to the angels, In their censer-cup of snow; And the violets blossom forever In the haunts where the wild birds sing, And the fern and the flowers are fragrant In the balm of eternal spring.

--EBEN E. REXFORD.

CHAPTER TEN

The violets bloom is loveliest, Oh pretty pets, the violets.

--M. D. TOLMAN.

CHAPTER TEN

Ah, the days may be sullen and sober, The nights may be stormy and cold; But for him who has eyes to behold, The violets bloom in October.

--ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN.

The soft warm haze Makes moist once more the sere and dusty ways, And, creeping through where dead leaves lie in drifts, The violet returns.

--HELEN HUNT JACKSON.

Into her dream he melted, as the rose Blendeth its odor with the violet.

--JOHN KEATS.

I think I love the violets best of all, Because of that hushed sweetness, far and faint As star-dust through the darkness dimly sown.

--MYRTLE REED.

Oh, North, or South, or East, or West, The violet's bloom is loveliest!

They come from out their coverts green, The daintiest damsels ever seen, Oh, pretty pets, the violets!

--M. D. TOLMAN.

To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, Is wasteful, and ridiculous excess.

--WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

The sun pierced through And made a rainbow of the mist, And high, so high against the blue, I saw a mountain capped in snow; And in my hand were violets.

--MARY F. FAXON.

Where fields of goldenrod cannot offset One meadow with a single violet.

--HELEN HUNT JACKSON.

If ever thou 'rt left alone, Think not that thy love is dead, But look till thou find'st the red Wild rose, and say, "'Tis her cheek."

Then kiss it close; and seek-- Where the clear dew never dries-- Blue violets for mine eyes.

--CHARLES HENRY LuDERS.

Trust not, ye modest violets, His promises to you, Nor dare upon his fickle smile To broaden your kerchiefs blue.

--ALICE CARY.

Because you mirror the skies In color of heaven's own blue-- For your sweet and dainty selves, Violets, I love you.

--GRACE HIBBARD.

When violets lean O'er wandering brooks and springs unseen, Or columbines, in purple drest, Nod o'er the ground-bird's hidden nest.