VIOLET. 63 



It has a scent as though Love, for its dower, 



Had on it all his odorous arrows tost ; 

 For though the Rose has more perfuming power, 



The Violet (haply 'cause 'tis almost lost, 

 And takes us so much trouble to discover) 

 Stands first with most, hut always with a lover. 



This poet, like most of his competitors, dwells 

 upon the Blue Violet, overlooking the innocent and 

 sweet flower altogether. 



And Violets, a hlue profusion, sprung, 

 Haunting the air. 



And Violets, whose looks are like the skies. 



Or when the hlue-eyed Violet weeps upon 

 Some sloping hank *. 



Virgil tells us — 



The daughters of the flood have searched the mead 

 For Violets pale. 



This flower was in such high estimation with the 

 ancients, that one of the prizes of the Floral games 

 consisted of a Golden Violet, and we are told in 

 their fables, that la, the daughter of Atlas, fleeing 

 into the woods from the pursuit of Apollo, was, 

 through the power of Diana, changed into a Violet, 

 which still retains the bashful timidity of the 

 nymph, by partially concealing itself from the gaze 

 of Phoebus in its foliage. 



■ The tremhling Violet, which eyes 



The sun hut once, and unrepining dies. 



H. Smith. 



* The eye of the Violet is of an orange colour. 



