252 FLORA HISTORICA. 



The name of this plant is derived from A/^a- 

 qoLVTos, incorruptible, because the flowers of se- 

 veral of the species do not wither when gathered, 

 and hence the poets have frequently named it, 

 and we sometimes find it, as in Milton, an ima- 

 ginary flower, supposed, according to its name, 

 never to fade. Pope mentions it in his Ode for 

 St. Cecilia's day : 



** By the streams that ever flow. 

 By the fragrant winds that blow 



O'er the Elysian flow'rs ; 

 By those happy souls that dwell 

 In yellow meads of Asphodel, 

 Or Amaranthine bow'rs." 



M. Constant Dubos, in a charming idyl, has 

 sung of this flower, the sight of which consoles 

 us for the rigours of winter. After having re- 

 gretted the rapid flight of flowers and the spring, 

 he says ; 



*• Je t'aper^ois, belle et noble amarante ! 



Tu viens m'offrir, pour charmer mes douleurs, 



De ton velours la richesse eclatante ; 



Ainsi la main de I'amitie constantc, 



Quand tout nous fuit, vient cssuyer nos pleurs. 



Ton doux aspect de ma lyre plaintive 



A ranime les accords lang-uissans ; 



Dernier tribut de Flore fugitive, 



Elle nous legue, avec la fleur tardive, s 



Le souvenir de ses premiers presens." 



