124 FLOEAL CEREMONIES. 



it' is the opinion of Baccius, that, at their 

 desserts, the number of their flowers far ex- 

 ceeded that of their fruits. The odour of 

 flowers was thought to arouse the fainting ap- 

 petite, and it certainly must have added an 

 ethereal enjoyment to the grosser pleasures of 

 their banqueting boards. 



Flowers are not only used as a stimulus to 

 the palate, or that two senses might be gratified 

 at one time, but it was thought that certain 

 plants and flowers facilitated the functions of 

 the brain, and assisted materially to neutralize 

 the inebriating qualities of wine. Even the 

 warriors did not hesitate to crown themselves 

 with flowers during their principal repast. 

 These observations are equally applicable to 

 the Greeks, as to the Romans. 



Horace, it seems, could not sit down to his 

 bachelor's glass of wine without his garland. 

 This lively little ode occurs at the conclusion of 

 his first book : 



" I tell thee, boy, that I detest 

 The grandeur of a Persian feast, 

 Not for me the Linden's rind 

 Shall the flowery chaplet bind. 



