History and Culture of the Viola. 19 



different kinds of violets, even in that state of mind. One species, 

 it seems, was "dedicate'^ to love, meaning the passion of youthful 

 hearts ; and the other, to that feeling of reverence and affection which 

 the child entertains for a parent or benefactor : — 



'^Oph. — There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; 



Praj you, love, remember; and there is punsles, 

 That's for thoughts. 

 Laer. — A document in machiess ; thoughts and 



Remembrance fitted. 

 Oph. — Tiiere's fennel for you, and columbines; — 



There's rue for you ; and here's some for me; — 



We may call it herb of grace o'Sundays ; — 



You may wear your rue with a ditference. — 



There's a daisy : — I would give you some 



Violets ; but they withered all tulun my father died." 



The immortal Milton, who saw the worlds beyond us "with an 

 angel's ken," and was familiar with every maze of science; who de- 

 scribed with equal accuracy a constellation or a flower, has also made 

 some distinction in the violets; — ■ 



-flowers were the couch, 



Pansies, and violets, and asphodel, 



And hyacinths, earth's freshest, softest lap." 



The bard, who saw all things as Nature made them, has carpeted 

 the bowers of paradise with the richest and sweetest flowers, among 

 which the violet is first named : — 



" Thus talking, hand in hand, alone they passed 

 On to their blissful bower ; it was a place 

 Chosen by the sov'reign l^lanter, when lie framed 

 All things to man's delightful use ; the roof, 

 Of thickest covert, was interwoven shade, 

 Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew 

 Of firm and fragrant leaf: on either side 

 Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, 

 Fenced up the verdant wall : each beauteous flower, 

 Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine. 



Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought 

 Mosaic : underfoot the violet, 

 Crocus, and hyacintli, with rich inlay 

 Broidered the ground, more colored than with stone 

 Of costliest emblem." 



The generic term, violet, is derived from the Romans, yet the tri- 

 colored violet has, perhaps, alone received the English names of ^^a??sj/ 

 and hearfs-ease. By modem florists, this beautiful flower is called the 

 viola grandijlora, orihe great-Jioivcred jjausi/ violet; and not unfre- 

 quently, of late, by way of great distinction, it has been called "the 

 Jlorisfs Jlower.'^ There are now, in the gardens in England, more 

 than three hundred varieties of this plant, and the cultivators are 

 every year repaid for their attention to this little gem of their love, 

 by new varieties. Some beautiful ones have been exhibited in this 

 country, the largest of which is the purpurea. It has been suggested, 



