106 FLORA'S LEXICON. 



YACINTH. Hyacinthus. Class 6, Hex- 

 andria. Order: Monogynia. The hya- 

 cinth, so celebrated in the songs of the po- 

 ets, from the time of Homer to the present 

 day, is made emblematical of games, or 

 play, in allusion to the fabulous origin of 

 this flower, which, according to mycolo- 

 gists, sprang from the blood of Hyacinthus, who was killed by a 

 quoit, through the agency of Zephyr, who blew it from its course 

 as it passed from the hand of Apollo, and smote the unfortunate 

 youth on the head. Hurd mentions 



The melancholy hyacinth that weeps 

 All night, and never lifts an eye all day; 



probably in allusion to the melancholy fate of Hyacinthus. 



PLAY. 



Oh ! mournful, graceful, sapphire-colour'd flower, 

 That keep'st thine eye for ever fix'd on earth ! 

 Gentle and sad, a foe thou seem'st to mirth — 



What secret sorrow makes thee thus to lower? 



Perhaps 'tis that thy place thou canst not change, 

 And thou art pining at thy prison'd lot ; 

 But oh ! where couldst thou find a sweeter spot, 



Wert thou permitted earth's wide bounds to range] 



In pensive grove, meet temple for thy form, 

 Where, with her silvery music, doth intrude 

 The lucid stream, where nought unkind or rude 



Durst break of harmony the hallow'd charm. 



Thy beauties, all unseen by vulgar eyes, 

 Sol, in his brightness, still delights to view ; 

 He clothes thy petals in his glorious hue, 



To show how much of old he did thee prize. 



Axon. 



