THE LILY OF THE VALLEY. 271 



to let the truth shine in on that which is all pure, all 

 holy, all fit to bear its most searching light. 



The pretty names of "Ladder to Heaven/' "Jacob's 

 ladder/' and "scala cielo," are variously attributed to 

 the emblematic meaning given to it in the middle 

 ages, when this plant, as the " flower of humility/' 

 was so termed ; or, from the resemblance to a 

 ladder scaled by angels, which imagination may 

 discern in the outline of the common Solomon's seal 

 (G. multifldra, or vulydris), to which, more pro- 

 perly, the name belongs. For if we hold it above 

 the level of our eyes, and so look up to the back, or 

 under part, of the stalk, we may easily picture to 

 ourselves the slender and ethereal-looking blossoms 

 to be miniature angels in long white robes, bordered 

 with delicate broidery of green, ascending and de- 

 scending in pairs, by the celestial ladder. 



The Welsh name, Clych enid, signifies literally, 

 bell of the woodlark, but it appears to bear refer- 

 ence to the old and popular story of " Geiraint, the 

 son of Erbin," the heroine of which the national 

 type of true-hearted and womanly gentleness 

 bears the name of Enid, a name justly transferred 

 from her to the flower of patience and humility.* 



Of our four British species of Convalldria, the 

 best known is that of which the poet says : 



* A living poet is said to be employed in preparing for 

 publication a metrical version of this beautiful tale. By thus 

 producing it in an inexpensive form he will do good service ; 

 but those who desire to see the tale in the exquisite simplicity 

 of its epic prose may be referred to the " Mabinogion," as 

 translated by Lady Charlotte Guest. 



