FLORAL CUSTOMS, SUPERSTITIONS, AND HISTORIES. 215 



and it was a redeeming feature in those brilliant entertainments, that, 

 at their desserts, the number of flowers far exceeded that of their fruits ; 

 and although physical luxuries were too much sought by the ancients 

 to permit them the full enjoyment of "a feast of reason, and a flow of 

 soul," yet the mingling of flowers with these festivals is in itself an 

 interesting characteristic. They not only regarded flowers as mini- 

 stering to the gratification of the senses, but they believed that certain 

 plants had the power of averting the intoxicating efiects of the wines* 



Cicero says that, at the annual festivals of the Terminalia, the 

 peasants were all crowned with flowers. "Sacrifices among the Ro- 

 mans were of difierent kinds ; the place erected for ofierings was 

 called ara, or altare, an altar ; it was erected with leaves and grass, 

 adorned with flowers, and bound with woollen fillets." "In the tri- 

 umphal processions of Rome the streets were strewed with flowers, 

 and the altars smoked with incense."* 



One of the finest of the "Lays of ancient Rome," is on the feast of the 

 twin brothers, who won for Rome the battle of Lake Regillus, when 

 the " Eternal City " was in the time of her pristine vigour, and had 

 not yet fallen into luxury and effeminacy. The lo triumphe swells 

 upon the gale, the multitude throng the streets, the walls resound with 

 the pealing of trumpets, and the shouts of the people, and the " seven 

 hilled city" echoes the sounds of triumph and joy. 



' * To day the doors and windows 



Are hung with garlands all, 

 From Castor in the Forum, 



To Mars without the wall ; 

 Each knight is robed in purple, 



With olive each is crowned; 

 A gallant war-horse under each, 



Paws haughtily the ground. 



On ride they to the Forum, 



While laurel boughs and flowers, 

 From housetops and from windows. 



Fall on their crests in showers." 



Macaulat. 



In the mythology of Greece flowers play an important part. The 



* living's Antiquities. 



