FLORAS 1.1. \ | CON. 155 



ASSION FLOWER. Passiflora. Class 5, 

 1'i:mandria. Order: Tri<;yma. The .1///- 

 rucuia of the western world was no sooner 

 seen in Italy, than fanciful devotion found 

 u mysterious representation of the passion 

 of Christ in this flower, and it received the 

 sanctimonious titles of Flos Passionis and 



Christi Passionis Imago, from which our name of passion flower 



is derived, and the emblem formed. 



PASSIONATE LOVE. RELIGIOUS SUPERSTITION. 



Well art thou named — thou warm-hued Passion Flower, 



Fit emblem of the ardour and caprice 



Of that wild passion, Love : — for thou dost change, 



Even like him, thy semblance; and thou art coy, 



Ay, as the fairest maiden whose young heart 



Thy namesake hath invaded. Coy, and proud, 



For thou, forsooth, must have the bright sun come, 



And wait, and gaze upon thy sleeping face, 



Before thou wilt vouchsafe to ope thine eyes 



Of starry beauty to our wondering gaze. 



And then, ere long, the jealous petals close, 



And shut within their selfish clasp the gem 



They darken, not admire. And are there not 



Some other selfish things in this strange world, 



That do the like with flowers of lovelier growth 1 



TWAMLEY. 



At rosy morn, or evening's silent "hour, 

 Some fair enthusiast views the sainted flower, 

 When lo! to rapt imagination's eye, 

 Springs the sad scene of darken'd Calvary ! 

 The thorny crown the heavenly brows around, 

 The scourging thorns, the galling cords that bound, 

 And nails that pierced with agonizing wound. 



Shaw. 



