 | Sketches of Natural History |  |
145
THE WILD FRITILLARY.
FAMILIARLY CALLED THE WEEPING WIDOW, OR THE MOURNING BRIDE.
Like a drooping thing of sorrow,
Sad today, more sad tomorrow;
Like a widow dark weeds wearing,
Anguish in her bosom bearing;
Like a nun in raiment sable,
Sorrow-bowed, inconsolable;
Like a melancholy fairy,
Art thou, Meadow-Fritillary!
Sad today, more sad tomorrow;
Like a widow dark weeds wearing,
Anguish in her bosom bearing;
Like a nun in raiment sable,
Sorrow-bowed, inconsolable;
Like a melancholy fairy,
Art thou, Meadow-Fritillary!
146
Like the head of snake enchanted,
Where whilom the life hath panted,
All its purple checquerings scaly
Growing cold and dim and paly;
Like a dragon's head half moulded,
Scaly jaws together folded,
Is the bud so dusk and airy
Of the wild Field-Fritillary!
Where whilom the life hath panted,
All its purple checquerings scaly
Growing cold and dim and paly;
Like a dragon's head half moulded,
Scaly jaws together folded,
Is the bud so dusk and airy
Of the wild Field-Fritillary!
Like a joy my memory knoweth—
In my native fields it groweth;
Like the voice of one long parted,
Calling to the faithful-hearted;
Like an unexpected pleasure
That hath neither stint nor measure;
Like a bountiful good fairy,
Do I hail thee, Fritillary!
In my native fields it groweth;
Like the voice of one long parted,
Calling to the faithful-hearted;
Like an unexpected pleasure
That hath neither stint nor measure;
Like a bountiful good fairy,
Do I hail thee, Fritillary!
| Sketches of Natural History | |