Ballade of the Daisy

[From the Old French of Froissart]

By Victor B. Neuburg

Published in the Agnostic Journal

London, England

18 May 1907

(page 311)

Above all flowers in fair the fragrant rose,

To her the modest violet e'en gives place,

The fleur-de-lys,—the marjoram sweetly blows,—

The gentle iris tall, with slender grace;

And all men love the simple columbine,

Peony, lily, and the marigold,

For every flower hath a face divine,

But, as for me, if that the truth be told,

Of all flowers I the daisy sweetest hold.

Whether the day be dull, or chill with snows,

Whether the season may be fair or base,

Ever the daisy meetly nods and grows,

Sweetly and fair with white and crimson face;

In seasons due doth ope and close her eyne

The daisy sweet; she fades not nor grows old.

And for this thing, (now thought hath long been mine,)

That truth her gentle being doth enfold,

Of all flowers I the daisy sweetest hold.

And now once more the daisy newly glows,

Again young Spring hath won the year's long race;

Upon the sward have I seen seated those

Whose hearts a pleasant arrow pierced apace.

Ah! may the god of love his arms entwine

Around the twain,—so may their hearts grow bold

With courtesy and pleasance; so, in fine,

Weaving a wreath, my carol shall be trolled,—

"Of all flowers I the daisy sweetest hold."

[420]