SECRET OF THE CHARM OF FLOWERS 145 



But all reds have something human, even the most 

 luminous scarlets and crimsons — the scarlet ver- 

 bena, the poppy, our garden geraniums, etc. — 

 although in intensity they so greatly surpass the 

 brightest colour of the lips and the most vivid 

 blush on the cheek. Luminous reds are not, how- 

 ever, confined to lips and cheeks : even the fingers 

 when held up before the eyes to the sun or to fire- 

 light show a very delicate and beautiful red ; and 

 this same brilliant floral hue is seen at times in 

 the membrane of the ear. It is, in fact, the colour 

 of blood, and that bright fluid, which is the life, 

 and is often spilt, comes very much into the human 

 associations of flowers. The Persian poet, whose 

 name is best left unwritten, since from hearing 

 it too often most persons are now sick and tired 

 of it, has said, 



I sometimes think that never blooms so red 

 The rose as where some buried Ceesar bled. 



There is many and many a " plant of the blood 

 of men." Our most common Love-lies-bleeding 

 with its " dropping wells " of crimson serves to 

 remind us that there are numberless vulgar names 

 that express this resemblance and association. 

 The thought or fancy is found everywhere in poetic 



