110 FLOnAL EMBLEMS. 



DECEITFUL CHARMS. 



Thorn-apple. — Datura Stramonium. 



This dangerous narcotic plant clothes it- 

 self with such an elegant indented foliage, 

 and garnishes its branches with caroUas of 

 so graceful and negligent a shape, and of 

 so pure a white, that all suspicion of its dele- 

 terious nature seems lulled to rest. Whilst 

 like the lamise of old, its charms only allure 

 that its power may destroy ; and hence, in 

 symbolical language, the datura is made the 

 emblem of deceitful charms, and the common 

 stramonium is made to express disguise. 



'' Hence guilty joys, distastes, surmises, 

 False oaths, false tears, deceits, disguises." 



Pope. 



