LOVE IX A PUZZLE. 139 



ncl plant. We presume it was called Devil in a 

 Bush from the crooked horn-shaped capsules being 

 enconi})assed by the branching leaves described ; 

 and Love in a Puzzle, from this pretty flower 

 being seated in a chcveux de frise of linear fo- 

 liage : we therefore make it the emblem of embar- 

 rassment. 



The Nigella is a native of the south of Europe, 

 where it grows amongst the corn in the same man- 

 ner as the blue corn bottle-flower grows with us. 

 It was cultivated in our gardens as long back as 

 1570, and Gerard speaks of it with double flowers 

 in 1597 : thus Love in a Puzzle seems to have 

 been as common in the reign of our virgin queen 

 as it has been in later times, and as it was of old 

 amongst the gods themselves, if we may believe 

 Anacreon. 



One day, the IMiises twined the hands 

 Of bab}' Love with flow'ry bands ; 

 And to celestial Beauty gave 

 The captive infant as her slave. 

 His mother comes with many a toy, 

 To ransom her beloved boy ; 

 His mother sues— but all in vain — 

 He ne'er will leave his chains again. 

 Nay, should they take his chains away, 

 The little captive still would stay : 

 " If this," he cries, " a bondage be, 

 Who could wish for liberty !" 



INI gore's Translation. 



Love in a Puzzle is easily propagated, as many 



besides the gardener can tell us. It flourishes 



