Old Ballads Author:Thomas Evans Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: For flowers fresh begin to fade, And Boreas in the field, E'en with his hard congealed frost, No better flowers doth yield. But if that winter could ha... more »ve sprung, A sweeter flower than this, I would have sent it presently To you withouten miss : Accept this then as time doth serve, Be thankful for the same, Despise it not but keep it well, And mark each flower his name. Lavender is for Lovers true, Which evermore be fain: Desiring always for to have Some pleasure for their pain: And when that they obtained have, The love that they require, Then have they all their perfect joy, And quenched is the fire. Rosemary is for Remembrance, Between us day and night, Wishing that I might always have You present in my sight. And when I cannot have, As I have said before, Then Cupid with his deadly dart, Doth wound my heart full sore. Sage is for Sustenance, That should man's life sustain, For I do still lie languishing, . Continually in pain, And shall do still until I die, Except thou favour shew, My pain, and all my grievous smart, Full well you do it know. Fennel is for Flatterers, An evil thing it's sure, But I have always meant truly, With constant heart most -pure : And will continue in the same As long as life doth last, Still hoping for a joyful day When all our pains be past. Violet is for Faithfulness, Which in me shall abide, Hoping likewise that from your heart, You will not let it slide : And will continue in the same, As you have, now begun, And then for ever to abide, "Then you my heart have won. Thyme is to try me, As each be tried must; Trusting you know, while life doth last, I will not be unjust: And if I should I would that God To hell my soul should bear, ...« less