580 pPaat Tsore, "heQer^f, oni. Is^riaf, 



These floral games are still celebrated every year. Along with 



other flowers, the Violet was assigned by the ancients to Venus. 



It is said that Proserpine was gathering Violets as well as Narcissus 



when she was seized by Pluto. The Athenians more especially 



affecfled the Violet ; everywhere throughout the city of Athens they 

 set up tablets engraven with the name, and preferred for them- 

 selves above all other names, that of *' Athenian crowned with 

 Violets." The Romans, also, were extremely partial to the Violet, 

 and cultivated it largely in their gardens. A favourite beverage 



of theirs was a wine made from the flower. The Violet was, 



in olden days, regarded in England as an emblem of constancy, 

 as we find by an old sonnet : — 



' * Violet is for faithfulnesse, 

 Which in me shall abide ; 

 Hoping likewise that from your heart 

 You will not let it slide." 



The Violet is considered to be a funeral flower, and we find that 

 in mediaeval times it was among the flowers used in the old cere- 

 mony called " Creeping to the Crosse," when on Good Friday 

 priests clad in crimson, and " singing dolefully," carried the image 

 of the Cross, accompanied by another image representing a person 

 just dead — 



" With tapers all the people come, 



And at the barriers stay, 

 Where down upon their knees they fall. 



And night and day they pray ; 

 And Violets and ev'ry kind 



Of flowers about the grave 

 They strawe, and bring in all 



The presents that they have." 



It was formerly commonly believed in England that when Violets 

 and Roses flourished in Autumn, there would be some epidemic in 

 the ensuing year. In Worcestershire, the safety of the farmer's 

 young broods of chickens and ducks is thought to be sadly endan- 

 gered by anyone taking less than a handful of Violets or Primroses 



into his house. Pliny had so* high an opinion of the medicinal 



virtues of the Violet, as to assert that a garland of Violets worn 

 about the head prevented headache or dizziness. In the time of 

 Charles II., a conserve, called Violet-sugar or Violet-plate, was 



recommended by physicians to consumptive patients. The 



Violet has always been in high favour with the French, and is now 

 the recognised badge of the Imperial party. The flower became 

 identified with the Bonapartists during Napoleon the First's exile 

 at Elba. When about to depart for that island, he comforted his 

 adherents by promising to return with the Violets : — 



" Farewell to thee, France ! but when liberty rallies 

 Once more in thy regions, remember me then ; 

 The Violet grows in the depths of thy valleys, 



Though withered, thy tears will unfold it again." — Byron. 



