Hoyt & Roberts, comps. Hoyts New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations. 1922.
Thistle (Cnicus)
Up wi the flowers o Scotland, The emblems o the free, Their guardians for a thousand years, Their guardians still well be. A foe had better brave the deil Within his reeky cell, Than our thistles purple bonnet, Or bonny heather bell. HoodThe Flowers of Scotland.
When on the breath of Autumns breeze, From pastures dry and brown, Goes floating, like an idle thought, The fair, white thistle-down; O, then what joy to walk at will, Upon the golden harvest-hill! Mary HowittCorn-Fields.