CHAPTER XX. 



THE PASSION-FLOWER. 



I have already mentioned that I was nearly deter- 

 red from taking up two or three subjects, by find- 

 ing that Hervey had left me nothing to say respect- 

 ing the particular flowers connected with them 

 I shall, however, venture to pursue the original 

 plan, at least with regard to one of these, especial 

 ly as I have very little to say of the type ; and a 

 great deal of that to which I have attached it, as a 

 memento. 



I never could look upon the Passion-flower so 

 enthusiastically as some do, nor find much gratifi- 

 cation in following up the imaginary resemblance 

 to that whence its name is derived : and, strange 

 as it may appear, although peculiarly fond of 

 graphic representations, I have rather an aversion, 

 as well to those which assume to pourtray the 

 awful scene of Calvary, as to the incongruous host 

 of Madonnas and holy families ; which, from their 

 utter dissimilarity one to another, irresistibly im- 

 press my mind with the idea of gross fiction, and 



