Together they sate by a river’s side, A knight and a lady gay, And they watched the deep and eddying tide Round a flowery islet stray. And, “Oh! for that flower of brilliant hue,” Said then the lady fair, “To grace my neck with the blossoms blue And braid my nut-brown hair!” The knight has plunged in the whirling wave All for his lady’s smile: And he swims the stream with courage brave, And he gains yon flowery isle. And his fingers have cropped the blossoms blue, And the prize they backward bear; To deck his love with the brilliant hue And braid her nut-brown hair. But the way is long, and the current strong, And alas for that gallant knight! For the waves prevail, and his stout arms fail, Though cheered by his lady’s sight. Then the blossoms blue to the bank he threw, Ere he sank in the eddying tide; And “Lady, I’m gone, thine own knight true, Forget me not,” he cried. This farewell pledge the lady caught; And hence, as legends say, The flower is a sign to awaken thought In friends who are far away. For the lady fair of her knight so true, Still remembered the hapless lot: And she cherished the flower of brilliant hue, And she braided her hair with the blossoms blue And then called it “Forget-me-not!” _Mant._ * * * * * To flourish in my favourite bower, To blossom round my cot, I cultivate the little flower They call Forget-me-not. This pretty little floweret’s dye Of soft cerulean blue, Appears as if from Ellen’s eye It had received its hue. Though oceans now betwixt us roar, Though distant be our lot, Ellen! though we should meet no more, Sweet maid, Forget me not! _Anon._ * * * * *