BORAGE. ^^/ 



Botanists class this plant among the squills. Its specific 

 name was fancifully given to it, from the absence of the 

 letters, A i, A i, zuoc ! woe ! which are said to be inscribed 

 on the petals of other hyacinths. Its delicious fragrance, and 

 the rich beauty of its deep blue-purple bells, have apparently 

 claimed for it a place in floral language as the emblem of 

 kindness. 



BORAGE {Borago officinalis).— ?>U^^T^Y.?,^. RUDENESS. 



Apuleius says that Borago is a corruption of corago, a 

 name given to the plant because of its cordial properties. It 

 formed an ingredient in the beverage called cool tankard, 

 though it may be supposed to be rather warming than cooling 

 from the old adage, " I, Borage, always bring courage." 

 Dodonaeus, as quoted by Gerarde, says, '' Those of our 

 times do use the flowers in salads, to exhilarate and make the 

 minde glad. There be also many things made of them, used 

 for the comfort of the Jieart, to drive away sorrow and increase 

 the joy of the minde." Since men, who are civil and re- 

 spectful when sober, often become blunt and rude in manner 

 when under the influence of warming cordials, this warming- 

 property may have led to Borage being used as the emblem 

 of Bluntness and Rudeness. It is, indeed, deemed a suitable 

 representative of these characteristics, on account of its rough 

 and shaggy appearance, the whole plant hanging loosely, and 

 o being covered with rough hairs. Yet its alleged good pro- 

 perties remind us that a brusque manner often marks a man of 



34 



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