156 FUNERAL FLO WE US. 



flowers. So, in the South of England, a chaplet 

 of white roses is borne before the corpse of a 

 maiden by a young girl, nearest in age and re- 

 semblance to the deceased, and afterwards hung 

 up over her accustomed seat at church. They 

 are emblematical, says WASHINGTON IRVING, of 

 purity and the crown of glory, which she has 

 received in heaven : 



"A garland shall be formed 

 By art and nature's skill, 

 Of sundry colored flowers 



In token of good-will, 

 The blessed crown of glory, 

 And the hopes which us do fill." 



Many and very beautiful are the allusions 

 made to this custom by our old poets and drama- 

 tists ; we shall only have space to quote a few 

 of them from the prince of song and master of 

 the passions : 



QUEEN. " Sweets to the sweet Farewell ! 



( Scattering flowers. ) 



I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife ; 

 I thought thy bride-bed to have deck'd, sweet maid, 

 And not t' have strew'd thy grave. HAMLET, ACT V. 



