POLYANTHUS. 333 



Spenser continually speaks of this flower by the name of 

 Sops-in-wine. Drayton also uses this name for them : 



" Sweet- Williams, campions, sops-in-wine, 

 One by another neatly." 



And Ben Jonson : 



" Bring corn-flag, tulip, and Adonis-flower ; 

 Fair ox-eye, goldy-locks and columbine, 

 Pinks, goulands, king-cups, and sweet sops-in-wine ; 

 Blue hare-bells, paigles, pansies, calaminth, 

 Flower-gentle, and the fair-haired hyacinth : 

 Bring rich carnations, flower-de-luces, lilies, 

 Bright crown imperial," &c. 



This term seems to have, been confined to a particular 

 variety, since Drayton distinctly mentions the Carnation, 

 the Pink, Sweet- William, and Sops-in-wine. 



It has been observed that the word Dianthus signifies 

 Jove's flower ; but in English the name is generally confined 

 to the Pink, commonly so called ; which gives occasion to 

 Cowley to make a facetious remark upon the distinction : 



" Sweet- William small has form and aspect bright, 

 Like that sweet flower that yields great Jove delight ; 

 Had he majestic bulk, he' d now be styled 

 Jove's flower : and, if my skill is not beguiled, 

 He was Jove's flower when Jove was but a child. 

 Take him with many flowers in one conferr'd, 

 He 's worthy Jove e'en now he has a beard." 



COWLEY ON PLANTS, Book IV. 



POLYANTHUS. 



PRIMULA VULGARIS. 



PR1MULACE.E. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



" THE Polyanthus broad, with golden eye," bears a great 

 resemblance to the Auricula, and is a variety of primrose. 

 The roots may be purchased for a trifle, and will live several 



