50 FLORA HISTORICA. 



tion. Some writers are of opinion that they were 

 called Carnation after a flesh-colour so distinguished, 

 whilst others suppose that the colour was so named 

 from the tint of the Carnation flower. 



Carnation'd like a sleeping infant's clieek. 



Lord Byron. 



Spenser says, in his Shepherd's Calendar, 



Bring hether the Pincke and Purple CuUambine, 



^Vith Gelliflowres ; 

 Bring Coronations, and Sops in wine, 



Worn of paramours. 



Drayton also speaks of them under the name of 

 Sops in wine, 



Sweet-Williams, Campions, Sops in wine, 

 One by anotlier neatly. 



Shakspeare says, by the mouth of Perdita, 



The fairest flowers o' the season 



Are our Carnations, and streak' d Gillyflowers, 

 Which some call Nature's bastards : of that kind 

 Our rustic garden 's barren ; and I care not 

 To get slips of them. 



PoLiXEXEs. Wherefore, gentle maiden, 

 Do you neglect thera ? 



Perdita. For I have heard it said, 

 There is an art, which, in their piedness, shares 

 "With great creating nature. 



The name of Clove, as well as that of Cary- 

 ophyllus, was given to this species of Dlanthus, 

 from the perfume being similar to that of the spice 

 so called ; and the flower was, on that account, fre- 

 quently used to flavour dainty dishes as well as 



