238 FLORAL EMBLEMS. 



PLAY, OR GAMES. 



HYACINTH. Hyacinthus. 



" I will play no more ; my mind's not on't. 



I did never win of you ; 



Nor shall not when my fancy's on my play." 



Shakspeare. 



The hyacinth,, so celebrated by the poets 

 from the time of Homer to the present day, 

 is made the emblem of play, or games, in al- 

 lusion to the fable which tells us, that this 

 flower sprang from the blood of young Hya- 

 cinthus, the favourite of Apollo. 



" A well-pois'd disk first hasty Phoebus threw, 

 It cleft the air, and whistled as it flew ; 

 It reach'd the mark, a most surprising length, 

 Which spoke an equal share of art and strength. 

 Scarce was it fall'n, when, with too eager hand, 

 Young Hyacinth ran to snatch it from the sand ; 

 But the curst orb, which met a stony soil, 

 Flew in his face with violent recoil." 



Ovid. 



