THE WILD HYACIiyTH. 85 



in allusion to the fabulous origin of this favourite flower, which mytho- 

 logists tell us sprang from the blood of Hyacinthns, a youth greatly 

 beloved botli by Apollo and Zephyr; but who, preferring the Sun to 

 the Winds, created a jealousy in the bosom of the latter god, which 

 caused his destruction. 



Hyacinthus, being at quoits with Apollo, Zephyr, unperceived, took 

 the opportunity of revenging himself on his rival, by causing him to 

 become the instrument of the death of their favourite ; for, whilst 

 Apollo's quoit was in the air. Zephyr blew it from its course towards 

 the head of the unfortunate youth. 



An annual solemnity, called Hyacinthia, was held at Amyclse, in 

 Laconia, in honour of Hyacinthus and Apollo, which lasted three days, 

 the first of which was observed by affected mourning for the death of 

 Hyacinthus, during which time none appeared with their usual garlands 

 about their iieads, and they refused to eat bread or to sing in honour of 

 Piioebus; but the two following days were spent in the games cus- 

 tomary at ancient festivals, and even the slaves were liberally enter- 

 tained during this period, and the altars of Apollo were loaded with 

 the accustomed victims. 



Homer mentions the Hyacinth amongst the flowers which formed 

 the genial couch of Jove and Juno : — 



" Thick new-born Violets a soft carpet spread, 

 And clust'ring Lotos swell'd the rising bed, 

 And sudden Hyacinths the turf bestrow, 

 And flow'ry Crocus made the mountain glow." 



Iliad, Book 14. 



Crowns of Hyacinths were worn by the young Greek virgins who 

 assisted at the weddings of their friends. Some authors suppose the 

 Red Martagon Lily to be the poetical Hyacinth of the ancients, but 

 this is evidently a mistaken opinion, as the azure blue colour alone 

 would decide ; and Pliny describes the Hyacinth as having a sword 

 grass, and the smell of the Grape Flower, which agrees with the 

 Hyacinth, but not with the Martagon. Again, Homer mentions it 

 with fragrant flowers of the same season of the Hyacinths. The poets 

 also notice the Hyacinth under different colours, and everybody knows 

 that the Hyacinth flowers with sapphire-coloured, purple, crimson, 

 flesh, and white bells, but a blue Martagon will be sought for in vain. 



The English Hyacinth, nutans, or non scriptus, commonly called 

 the Harebell, has scarcely been less celebrated by our native poets than 

 that of the ancients by their fables. It is hardly possible for a person 

 of a poetical imagination to pass our sloping hedge-rows when covered 

 with the azure bells of this native Hyacinth, mixed, as they generally 

 are, with the delicate colour of the Primrose, without having their 

 ideas softened into song, when they 



" Behold the woody scene 

 Deck'd with a thousand flow'rs of grace divine." 



A R I) REIN I. 



