104 BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVES. 



protection he immediately implored. The goddess caused a pro- 

 digious number of green myrtles to spring up in the ship, and of 

 these the sailors made garlands, and by wearing them were saved. 

 They arrived in safety at Naucratis, the great commercial city of 

 Egypt, and from that period the garlands of myrtle were called 

 Naucratites. By Papirius Cursor, who erected the first sun-dial at 

 Eome, the myrtle was made a symbol of the Roman Empire ; and to 

 make the idea more capable of appreciation by the people, he planted 

 two myrtles, one reputed plebeian, and the other patrician. The 

 prosperity or decline of these trees was regarded by the Romans as 

 ominous of which party would predominate or sink into imbecility, 

 in the government of the empire. 



The floral symbols of Holy "Writ are exceedingly beautiful, and 

 are frequently used to convey a divine command in a poetical form ; 

 and are usually remarkable for their botanical correctness. From the 

 circumstance of Elijah having been sheltered from the persecutions 

 of King Ahab by the juniper of the mountains, that plant has become 

 a symbol of succour, or an asylum. Britain might well adopt this as 

 her national emblem, for truly, since the stirring events in the various 

 European states, persons of all languages and creeds may say with 

 the Psalmist, — " Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower 

 from the enemy." The almond was a symbol of haste and vigilance 

 to the Hebrew poets, — " What seest thou ? " said the Lord to Jere- 

 miah, and he answered, — " I see a rod of an almond-tree. Then, said 

 the Lord, — Thou hast well seen ; for I will hasten my word and will 

 perform it." The almond is a lovely plant, and puts forth its delicate 

 blushing flowers so quickly, and so much in advance of other trees, 

 and whilst its own branches are yet leafless, that its adoption as a 

 symbol of haste is very happy. With the Eastern poets it was a 

 symbol of hope, — 



The hope, in dreams of a happier hour, 



That alights on misery's brow, 

 Springs out of the silvery almond flower 



That blooms on a leafless bough. 



Moore. 



But no floral symbol can equal in beauty or sacredness the passion- 

 flower. This lovely blossom is so peculiar in construction, that when 

 the Spanish conquerors of the New World fijst met with it in the 

 woods, they gave it its name, and adopted it as an emblem of the 



