THE ACANTHUS. 



spreading its light shade over our groves, enUvening them 

 with the fresh greenness of its fine pinnated leaves, and 

 beautifying them with its white pendulous and odoriferous 

 flowers. 



THE ACANTHUS (A. mollis).— Tu^ Arts. 



It is related of Callimachus, a famous statuary and archi- 

 tect, but of unknown country, that, passing by the grave of 

 a young lady, he drew near to scatter a few flowers upon 

 her resting-place. The young lady had died some twelve 

 months before. She was on the point of being married, and 

 the intended union promised much happiness, of the enjoy- 

 ment of which she was thus deprived. Callimachus' com- 

 miseration prompted him to pay a tribute of regret, but he 

 found that his offering had been already anticipated. The 

 deceased young lady's nurse, collecting the flowers and the 

 veil wherewith her mistress was to be adorned on her wedding 

 day, put them together in a small basket. This basket she 

 placed near the grave upon an Acanthus plant, and covered 

 it with a large tile. In the following spring, the leaves of the 

 Acanthus grew round the basket, but they, being checked by 

 the edges of the tile, Avere forced round and grew towards 

 its extremities. Callimachus, struck with the beauty of this 

 rustic decoration, which appeared as though produced by the 

 Graces in tears, conceived the design which has ever since 

 adorned the capital of the Corinthian column. This possibly 

 suggested to our immortal Milton the introduction of th 



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