262 FLORAL EMBLEMS. 



RELIGIOUS SUPERSTITION. 



Passion Flower. — Passiflora. 



'* At rosy mom, or evening's silent hour. 



Some fair enthusiast views the sainted flower. 

 When lo ! to wrapt imagination's eye. 

 Springs the sad scene of darken 'd Calvary! 

 The thorny crown the heavenly brows around. 

 The scourging thorns, the gaUing cords that bound. 

 And nails that pierced with agonizing wound ; 

 Sudden she lifts to heaven her ardent eye 

 In silent gaze and solemn ecstacy : 

 Then, fill'd with timid hope and holy fear. 

 Drops on the flower a consecrated tear." 



Shaw. 



The Murucuia of the western world was 

 no sooner seen in Italy, than superstition or 

 craft, found a mysterious representation of 

 the passion of Christ in this flower, and it 

 received the sanctimonious titles of Flos Pas- 

 sionis and Christi Passionis Imago, from which 

 our name of passion flower is derived, and 

 the emblem formed. 



