72 FLORA HISTORICA. 



throats. The seeds of the Violet are said to be 

 strongly diuretic, and useful in gravel complaints. 



The Sweet Violet is highly valuable in chemistry 

 to detect an acid or an alkali ; and this test is so 

 delicate, that the smallest quantity of free acid 

 or alkali in any mixture is immediately detected by 

 the syrup of Violets, as acids turn the blue colour 

 of it to a red, and alkalies to a green : for this 

 purpose Violets are cultivated in large quantities at 

 Stratford-upon -Avon. 



PANSY, or HEART'S EASE. Viola tricolor. 



And thou, so rich in gentle names, appealing 

 To hearts that own our nature's common lot ; 



Thou styled by sportive fancy's better feeling, 

 A Thought, The Heart's Ease, or Forget me not. 

 Who deck'st alike the peasant's garden plot, 



And castle's proud parterre ; with humble joy 

 Proclaim afresh, by castle and by cot, 



Hopes which ought not, like things of time, to cloy, 



And feelings time itself shall deepen— not destroy I 



Barton. 

 Ye valleys low, 



Throw hither all your quaint enamell'd eyes, 

 That on the green turf suck the honey'd showers 

 And purple all the ground with vernal flowers. 

 ****** 



. and the Pansy freakt with jet ; 



The glowing Violet. Milton. 



The tints of this variable flower are scarce less 

 numerous than the names that have been bestowed 



