120 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



only by the dark rings on the sward, but by the 

 mark set by them on many a plant and flower and 

 in the names which still cling to them. 



Underneath the characters of the fairies lie those 

 of the old Northern deities Woden and Thor 

 and Freyja; and, deeper still, those of the more 

 ancient world into which they intruded — the world 

 of Paeon, the physician of Olympus, who bestowed 

 his name on the paeony; and of Helen of Troy, whose 

 virtues, if not her beauty, are commemorated in the 

 helenium, or elecampane, of which herb, says 

 Gerarde, she had her hands full when she was 

 carried off. 



It was always a well-known fact that the fairies 

 were passionately fond of most flowers; it is a part 

 of their mission to give to each maturing blossom 

 its proper hue, to guide creepers and climbing 

 plants, and to teach young plants to move with 

 befitting grace. 



The Anemone^ or wind flower, is a recognised fairy 

 blossom. The crimson marks on its petals have 

 been painted there by fairy hands; and in wet 

 weather it affords shelter to benighted elves, who 

 are glad to nestle inside the tent of fair petals, 

 and pull the curtains around them. 



Tulips are greatly loved by the fairy folk, who 

 utilise them as cradles in which to rock the infant 

 elves to sleep. 



The Fairy Flax (Linum catharticum) is, on account 

 of its extreme delicacy, selected by the fays as the 

 substance to be woven for their raiment. 



The Cowslip, or fairy cup, Shakespeare tells us, 

 forms the couch of Ariel, who sings so sweetly of 

 his fairy life: 



