74 FLORA HISTORICA. 



Cupid all arcn'd : — a certain aim lie took 



At a fair vestal, throned by the "west, 



And loosed his love-shaft smartly from his bow, 



As it would pierce a hundred thousand hearts : 



But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft 



Quench' d in the chaste beams of the wat'ry moon ; 



And the imperial votaress pass'd on, 



In maiden meditation, fancy free. 



Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell : — 



It fell upon a little western flower, — 



Before, milk-white, — now purple with love's wound, 



And maidens call it Love-in-idleness. 



Spenser calls it the " pretty pawncy," and Mr. 

 eiMi Hunt ad 



o 



of Hearts-ease 



Leigh Hunt admits it into his verse under the name 



the garden's gem 



HeartVease, like a gallant bold, 

 In his cloth of purple and gold. 



In addition to these names, it bears those of Herb 

 Trinity, Three faces under a hood, Flame Flower, 

 Jump up and kiss me, Flower of Jove, Pink of my 

 John, and others equally whimsical and unappro- 

 priate. 



Nature sports as much with the colours of this 

 little flower as she does with the features of the 

 human countenance ; and you may almost as well 

 seek a perfect likeness in two faces, as hunt for 

 Pansics of the same tint. 



Whilst looking on a bank of these favourite 

 flowers, we may safely say with Cowley — 



Can all your tap'stries, or your pictures, show 

 More beauties than in herbs and flow'rs do grow ? 



