These , however , were now a little past their bloom ; and wishing to give her friends the freshest and loveliest blossoms , she strayed farther into the fields , and found some that made her scream with delight . Never had she met with such exquisite flowers before -- violets so large and fragrant -- roses with so rich and delicate a blush -- such superb hyacinths and such aromatic pinks -- and many others , some of which seemed to be of new shapes and colors . Two or three times , moreover , she could not help thinking that a tuft of most splendid flowers had suddenly sprouted out of the earth before her very eyes , as if on purpose to tempt her a few steps farther . Proserpina 's apron was soon filled , and brimming over with delightful blossoms . She was on the point of turning back in order to rejoin the sea nymphs , and sit with them on the moist sands , all twining wreaths together . But , a little farther on , what should she behold ? It was a large shrub , completely covered with the most magnificent flowers in the world . `` The darlings ! '' cried Proserpina ; and then she thought to herself , `` I was looking at that spot only a moment ago . How strange it is that I did not see the flowers ! '' The nearer she approached the shrub , the more attractive it looked , until she came quite close to it ; and then , although its beauty was richer than words can tell , she hardly knew whether to like it or not . It bore above a hundred flowers of the most brilliant hues , and each different from the others , but all having a kind of resemblance among themselves , which showed them to be sister blossoms . But there was a deep , glossy luster on the leaves of the shrub , and on the petals of the flowers , that made Proserpina doubt whether they might not be poisonous . To tell you the truth , foolish as it may seem , she was half inclined to turn round and run away . `` What a silly child I am ! '' thought she , taking courage . `` It is really the most beautiful shrub that ever sprang out of the earth . I will pull it up by the roots , and carry it home , and plant it in my mother 's garden . '' Holding up her apron full of flowers with her left hand , Proserpina seized the large shrub with the other , and pulled , and pulled , but was hardly able to loosen the soil about its roots . What a deep-rooted plant it was !
Again the girl pulled with all her might , and observed that the earth began XXXXX stir and crack to some distance around the stem .
above although at by from nearer on than to with