104 FLORA HISTORICA. 



Some suppose that the Anemone was made the 

 emblem of sickness, in allusion to the fate of Adonis 

 the favourite of Venus, who changed his body into 

 this flower, after he had been killed by a boar which 

 lie had wounded in the chase. 



The flying savage, wounded, turn'd again, 

 "Wrench* d out the gory dart, and foam'd with pain. 

 The trembling hoy by flight his safety sought, 

 And now recall'd the lore which Venus taught. 

 But now too late to fly the hoar he strove, 

 "Who in the groin his tusks impetuous drove : 

 On the discolour'd grass Adonis lay, 

 The monster trampling o'er his heauteous prey. 

 ******* 



Yet dares not Venus with a change surprise, 

 And in a flow'r hid her falPn hero rise ! 

 Then on the hlood sweet nectar she bestows, 

 The scented hlood in little bubbles rose : 

 Little as rain drops, which fluttering fly, 

 Borne by the winds along a low'ring sky. 

 Short time ensued, till where the blood was shed 

 A flow'r began to rear its purple head : 

 Such as on Punic apples is reveal'd, 

 Or in the filmy rind but half conceal'd. 

 Still here the fate of lovely forms Ave see, 

 So sudden fades the sw r eet Anemone. 

 The feeble stems, to stormy blasts a prey, 

 Their sickly beauties droop and pine away. 

 The winds forbid the flow'rs to flourish long, 

 Which owe to winds their name in Grecian song. 



Eusden's Ovid. 



It is related by other mythologists, that Adonis 

 was restored to life again by Proserpine, on con- 

 dition that he should spend one half of the year 

 with her and the other with Venus. This is 



