William Shakespeare on Flowers
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“I am that flower,—That mint.—That columbine.”
- William Shakespeare, Specific types, Columbine
“Lilies of all kinds, The flower-de-luce being one!”
- William Shakespeare, Specific types, Iris)
“And winking Mary-buds begin To ope their golden eyes.”
- William Shakespeare, Specific types, Marigold
“There's fennel for you, and columbines: there's rue for you.”
- William Shakespeare, Specific types, Columbine
“For though the camomile, the more it is trodden on the faster it grows.”
- William Shakespeare, Specific types, Chamomile
“The fairest flowers o' the season Are our carnations and streak'd gillyvors.”
- William Shakespeare, Generally)
“What, is the jay more precious than the lark, Because his feathers are more beautiful?”
- William Shakespeare, Specific types, Jasmine
“To strew thy green with flowers; the yellows, blues, The purple violets, and marigolds.”
- William Shakespeare, Generally)
“In emerald tufts, flowers purple, blue, and white; Like sapphire, pearl and rich embroidery.”
- William Shakespeare, Generally)
“The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth The freckled cowslip, burnet and green clover.”
- William Shakespeare, Specific types, Cowslip
“Thou shalt not lack The flower that's like thy face, pale primrose, nor The azur'd harebell, like thy veins.”
- William Shakespeare, Generally)
“Here's flowers for you: Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram: The marigold, that goes to bed wi' the sun, And with him rises weeping.”
- William Shakespeare, Specific types, Marigold
“When daisies pied, and violets blue, And lady-smocks all silver-white, And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue Do paint the meadows with delight.”
- William Shakespeare, Generally)
“The cowslips tall her pensioners be; In their gold coats spots you see: Those be rubies, fairy favours; In those freckles live their savours.”
- William Shakespeare, Specific types, Cowslip
Shakespeare's vision of a lovers' haven in *A Midsummer Night's Dream* evokes a fragrant and idyllic natural space, slightly altered by Stervens' modernizing word choices.
“I know a bank, where the wild thyme blows Where ox-lips, and the nodding violet grows; Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, With sweet musk-roses, and with eglantine.”
- William Shakespeare, Generally)
“With fairest flowers, Whilst summer lasts, and I live here, Fidele, I'll sweeten thy sad grave; thou shall not lack The flower that's like thy face, pale primrose, nor The azur'd harebell, like thy veins.”
- William Shakespeare, Specific types, Harebell