FLORAL EMBLEMS. 279 



SILENCE. 



Lotus flower, or Water Lily. — Ni^mphcEa. 



'* Where blameless pleasures dimple quiet's cheek. 

 As water-lilies ripple a slow stream!" 



Coleridge. 



*' I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp autho- 

 rity over the man, but to be in silence." 



1 Timothy ii. 12. 



We present this aquatic plant as the em- 

 blem of silence, since the antiquarians assure 

 us, that they recognize this flower on the 

 head of Harpocrates. 



Love g-lides silently upon us, and the In- 

 dians feign that Cupid was first seen floating 

 down the Ganges on the Nymphcea Nelumbo. 



" Down the blue Ganges laughing glide 

 Upon a rosy lotus wreath. 

 Catching new lustre from the tide, 

 That with his image shone beneath." 



T. Moore. 



