A FLORAL FANTASY IN AN OLD ENGLISH GARDEN BY WALTER CRANE NEW YORK & LONDON HARPER AND BROTHERS [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] A FLORAL FANTASY IN AN OLD ENGLISH GARDEN [Illustration] SET FORTH IN VERSES & COLOURED DESIGNS BY WALTER CRANE LONDON: AT THE HOUSE OF HARPER AND BROTHERS: 1899 [Illustration] THE OLD ENGLISH GARDEN A FLORAL PHANTASY [Illustration] In an old world garden dreaming, Where the flowers had human names, Methought, in fantastic seeming, They disported as squires and dames. [Illustration] Of old in Rosamond's Bower, With it's peacock hedges of yew, One could never find the flower Unless one was given the clue; So take the key of the wicket, Who would follow my fancy free, By formal knot and clipt thicket, And smooth greensward so fair to see [Illustration] And while Time his scythe is whetting, Ere the dew from the grass has gone, [Illustration] The Four Seasons' flight forgetting, As they dance round the dial stone; [Illustration] With a leaf from an old English book, A Jonquil will serve for a pen. [Illustration] Let us note from the green arbour's nook, Flowers masking like women and men. [Illustration] FIRST in VENUS'S LOOKING GLASS, You may see where LOVE LIES BLEEDING, [Illustration] While PRETTY MAIDS all of them pass With careless hearts quite unheeding. [Illustration] Next, a knight with his flaming targe See the DENT-DE-LION so bold With his feathery crest at large, On a field of the cloth of gold. [Illustration] Simple honesty shows in vain A fashion few seek to robe in, While the poor SHEPHERD'S-PURSE is ta'en By rascally RAGGED-ROBIN. [Illustration] COLTSFOOT and LARKSPUR SPEEDWELL [Illustration] In the race of the flowers that's run due, [Illustration] As the HARTSTONGUE pants at the well [Illustration] And the HOUNDSTONGUE laps the SUNDEW. [Illustration] Here's VENUS'-COMBE for MAIDENHAIR: While KING-CUPS drink BELLA-DONNA, [Illustration] Glad in purple and gold so fair, Though the DEADLY NIGHTSHADE'S upon her. [Illustration] Behold LONDON PRIDE robed & crowned, Ushered in by the GOLDEN ROD, While a floral crowd press around, Just to win from her crest a nod. [Illustration] The FOXGLOVES are already on. Not only in pairs but dozens; They've come out to see all the fun, With sisters and aunts and cousins. [Illustration] The STITCHWORK looked up with a sigh At BATCHELOR'S BUTTONS unsewn: [Illustration] Single Daisies were not in her eye, For the grass was just newly mown. [Illustration] The HORSE-TAIL, 'scaped from WOLFE'S CLAW, Rides off with a LADIES' LAGES. [Illustration] The FRIAR'S-COWL hides a doctor of law, And the BISHOP'S-WEED covers his grace's [Illustration] The SNAPDRAGON opened his jaw, But, at sight of Scotch THISTLE, turned pale: [Illustration]