21G FLORA HISTORICA. 



on the north side of the South Downs of Sussex, 

 where these flowers are too abundant to have 

 escaped her notice. On the close of spring, she 

 says — 



No more shall Violets linger in the dell, 



Or Purple Orchis variegate the plain, 

 Till Spring again shall call forth every hell, 



And dress with humid hands her wreath again. 



Our great lexicographer has not deigned to men- 

 tion this plant under any of its various names. 

 Milton appears to have been struck with the beau- 

 ties of its hue, but avoids to name the flower. 



Throw hither all your quaint enamell'd eyes, 

 That on the green turf suck the honeyed show'rs, 

 And purple all the ground with vernal flow'rs. 



Shakspeare seems to allude to this plant as one 

 which helped to compose the garland of Ophelia ; 

 but the great dramatist evidently varnishes over 

 the familiar name by which it was distinguished by 

 the herbalist of his day. 



There with fantastic garlands did she come, 



Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, 



That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, 



But our cold maids do dead men' s fingers call them. 



Hamlet, Act. IV. 



The Greeks named it Ozyjr, Orchis, from the 

 form of the roots in many of the species, and this 

 appellation is now generally adopted in most of the 

 European languages. In addition to the Greek 

 name, the Latins often called it Satyrion, because 



