134 A GARDEN OF HERBS 



VIOLET 



" Violets dim, 

 But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes." 



Winter's Tale, IV. iv . 



" From the meadows your walks have left so sweet 



That, whenever a March wind sighs, 

 He sets the jewel print of your feet 

 In violets blue as your eyes." 



TENNYSON. 



"Nature 



Who never negligently yet 

 Fashioned an April violet 

 Nor would forgive, did June disclose 

 Unceremoniously the rose." 



W. WATSON. 



The violet has for centuries been the emblem of con- 

 stancy, and there is an old English sonnet in which the 

 lines occur 



" Violet is for faithfulnesse 

 Which in me shall abide." 



Both in ancient and modern days, in the East and the 

 West, the violet has always been a favourite flower. There 

 is an old Eastern proverb : " The excellence of the violet is 

 as the excellence of El Islam above all other religions." The 

 French people from the earliest days have always loved 

 violets. In Troubadour days at Toulouse the prize awarded 

 to the author of the best poem was a golden violet, and 

 Eleanor of Aquitaine refers to this old custom in "Becket " : 



" You know I won the violet at Toulouse." 



From the earliest times herbalists have lauded the virtues 

 of the flowers and leaves of violets. Pliny bestowed high 

 praise on them, and amongst the Persians and Romans 

 violet wine was a favourite beverage. In Tudor days 

 syrups, conserves and paste of violets were much recom- 

 mended for delicate people, and the leaves were used in 

 salads and pottages. It is the sweet-smelling wild violet 

 (not the dog violet) which possesses the virtues. 



VIOLET TEA. Half a pint of boiling water poured on a 

 handful of the fresh or dried leaves. 



