FLORAL SYMBOLS. 1^7 



Pol. Shepherdess, 

 (A fair one are you) well you fit our ages 

 With flowers of winter. 



It is perhaps the greatest evidence of the transcendency of Shak- 

 spere's genius, that in the philosophy of little things there is a stern 

 regard to truth of detail. Never does he mention an insect or a 

 flower, but it is in harmony "with the season, place, and moral of the 

 event it serves to illustrate. His floral symbols are especially beau- 

 tiful, and when regarded as emblems of the purpose of the dialogue, 

 shed a new light and beauty upon his sacred pages. In the same 

 scene as we have just quoted, he makes Perdita give flowers to her 

 visitors appropriate to, and symbolical of, their various ages. 



Here's flowers for you ; 

 Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram; 

 The marigold, that goes to bed with the sun, 

 And with him rises weeping : these are flowers 

 Of middle summer, and, I think, they are given 

 To men of middle age. 



Now, my fairest friend, 

 I would, I had some flowers o' the spring, that might 

 Become your time of day ; and yours, and yours ; 

 That wear upon your virgin branches yet. 

 • ***«« 



Dafi'odils, 

 That come before the swallow dares, and take 

 The winds of March with beauty ; violets dim. 

 But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes. 

 Or Cytherea's breath ; pale primroses, 

 That die unmarried, ere they can behold 

 Bright Phoebus in his strength, a malady 

 Most incident to maids ; both oxlips, and 

 The crown-imperial ; lilies of all kinds, 

 The fleur-de-lis being one! 



But the most beautiful of Shakspere's floral symbols occurs where 

 poor Ophelia in her madness goes to make " fantastic garlands" 



Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, 



which are all emblematical flowers, and tell a silent tale of her broken 

 heart. The first signifies /air wa?(?; the second, stung to the quick; 

 the third, her virgin bloom ; the fourth, under the cold hand of death ; 

 and the whole, being wild flowers, might denote the bewildered state 



