TULIP. 135 



TULIP. Tnlijja. 



Natural Order Corona/rim. Liliacca, Juss. A Genus 

 of the Hexandria Monogynia Class. 



Then comes the Tulip race, where beauty plays 



Her Idle freaks ; from family diffused 



To family, as flies the father dust, 



The varied colours run ; and while they break 



On the charm'd eye, th' exulting florist marks, 



With secret pride, the wonders of his hand. 



Thomson'. 



This flower, so much admired in the eastern parts 

 of the world on account of its splendour and variety, 

 has, from time immemorial, been made the emblem 

 by which a young Persian makes a declaration of 

 love. Chardin tells us that when these young 

 turbaned swains present a Tulip to their mistress, 

 it is their intention to convey to her the idea that, 

 like this flower, they have a countenance all on fire, 

 and a heart reduced to a coal. 



The Turks regard this flower with so much 

 delight, that a Feast of Tulips is celebrated annually 

 in the Grand Seignior's seraglio, the description of 

 which, when related to us in all the flowery garb of 

 their language, leaves even the delineation of the 



