XI. GENEALOGY. 187 



chain. But if we found our higher nomenclature at 

 once on historic fact, arid relative conditions of climate 

 and character, rather than of form, we may at once dis- 

 tribute our flora into unalterable groups, to which we 

 may add at our pleasure, but which will never need dis- 

 turbance ; far less, reconstruction. 



18. For instance, and to begin, it is an historical fact 

 that for many centuries the English nation believed that 

 the Founder of its religion, spiritually, by the mouth of 

 the King who spake of all herbs, had likened himself to 

 two flowers, the Rose of Sharon, and Lily of the Val- 

 ley. The fact of this belief is one of the most important 

 in the history of England, that is to say, of the mind or 

 heart of England : and it is connected solemnly with the 

 heart of Italy also, by the closing cantos of the Paradiso. 



I think it well therefore that our two first generic, or 

 at least commandant, names heading the out-laid and in- 

 laid divisions of plants, should be of the rose* and lily, 

 with such meaning in them as may remind us of this 

 fact in the history of human mind. 



It is also historical that the personal appearing of this 

 Master of our religion was spoken of by our chief re- 

 ligious teacher in these terms : " The Grace of God, that 

 bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men." And 

 it is a constant fact that this ' grace ' or ' favor ' of God 

 is spoken of as " giving us to eat of the Tree of Life." 



19. Now, comparing the botanical facts I have to ex- 

 press, with these historical ones, I find that the rose tribe 



