VIOLET. 441 



that between Tullus Hostilius, the third king of Rome, 

 and the Albans*. 



Pliny says that it was used in brushing the tables of 

 Jupiter, and in purifying houses. 



Drayton, in the Muse's Elysium, calls it the " Holy 

 Vervain ;" and in the same poem speaks of it as worn by 

 heralds : 



" A wreath of vervain heralds wear, 



Amongst our garlands named, 

 Being sent that dreadful news to bear, 

 Offensive war proclaimed." 



( ' Black melancholy rusts, that fed despair 



Through wounds long rage, with sprinkled vervain cleared ; 

 Strewed leaves of willow to refresh the air, 

 And with rich fumes his sullen senses cheered." 



DAVENANT'S GONDIBERT. 



VIOLET. 



VIOLA. 



VIOLET. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Frenchj violette. Italian, viola. 



THE species of Violets are very numerous; the Tii- 

 coloured or Pansy-violet has been noticed under its more 

 familiar name of Hearf s-ease. At the head of the other 

 Violets ranks the Viola Odorata, or Sweet-violet in French, 

 violette de Mars [March violet] ; violier commun : and in 

 Italian, viola Marzia; viola mammola which is a native 

 of every part of Europe, in woods, bushes, and hedges, 

 flowering in March and April. In 1804, Mr. Martyn 

 gathered a handful of them from one root at the end of 

 November. The flower varies in colour, though most com- 



* See the notes to Martyn's Virgil, Georgic 4. 



