The gay _Daffodilly_, an amorous blade,
Stole out of his bed in the dark,
And calling his brother, _Jon-Quil_, forth he stray'd
To breathe his love vows to a _Violet_ maid
Who dwelt in a neighbouring park.
A spiteful old _Nettle-aunt_ frown'd on their love;
But _Daffy_, who laugh'd at her power,
A _Shepherd's-purse_ slipp'd in the nurse's _Fox-glove_,
Then up _Jacob's-ladder_ he crept to his love,
And stole to the young _Virgin's-bower_.
The _Maiden's-blush Rose_--and she seem'd all dismay'd,
Array'd in her white _Lady's-smock_,
She call'd _Mignonette_--but the sly little jade,
That instant was hearing a sweet serenade
From the lips of a tall _Hollyhock_.
The _Pheasant's eye_, always a mischievous wight,
For prying out something not good,
Avow'd that he peep'd through the keyhole that night;
And clearly discern'd, by a glow-worm's pale light,
Their _Two-faces-under-a-hood_.
Old Dowager _Peony_, deaf as a door,
Who wish'd to know more of the facts,
Invited Dame _Mustard_ and Miss _Hellebore_,
With Miss _Periwinkle_, and many friends more,
One evening to tea and to tracts.
The _Butter-cups_ ranged, defamation ran high,
While every tongue join'd the debate;
Miss _Sensitive_ said, 'twixt a groan and a sigh,
Though she felt much concern'd--yet she thought her dear _Vi_--
Had grown rather bulbous of late.
Thus the tale spread about through the busy parterre:
Miss _Columbine_ turn'd up her nose,
And the prude Lady _Lavender_ said, with a stare,
That her friend, _Mary-gold_, had been heard to declare,
The creature had toy'd with the _Rose_.
Each _Sage_ look'd severe, and each _Cocks-comb_ look'd gay,
When _Daffy_ to make their mind easy,
Miss _Violet_ married one morning in May,
And, as sure as you live, before next Lady-day,
She brought him a _Michaelmas-daisy_.
* * * * *