LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 17 



of all languages. It was an easy transition, 

 after they had come to be regarded as proofs 

 and manifestations of divine love, goodness, and 

 protection, to make them the signs and symbols 

 of human feelings and passions ; hence hopes) 

 fears, and desires, joys and sorrows, and all the 

 sentiments and emotions which sway and agitate 

 the soul of man, have had their appropriate 

 expression in these mute, yet eloquent letters 

 of the blooming " alphabet of creation :" 



" By all those token flowers that tell 

 What words can ne'er express so well." BYRON. 



Sings the poet of our day, adjuring his mistress 

 to believe in his truth and fidelity, and so, though 

 in somewhat different words, might have sung, 

 and very likely did sing, the Israelite of old on 

 the flowery banks of Jordan, the Babylonian in 

 his hanging gardens, or the swarthy son of 

 Egypt, who, kneeling by the mysterious Nile, 

 might have plucked the blossom of the bright 

 nymphoea, and putting it to his lips, and turning 

 to the earthly idol of his adoration, have said : 



