^SH VORGlLTME-^OT.—3//yosotis palifstris. 



Cla^s Pentanduia. Ordrr Monooynia. Nat. Ord. BoRAcjiNKit:. 

 Borage Tribe. 



The various traditions which gave rise to the 

 popidar iiaiiic of this Ijriglit flower throughout 

 Europe, are tohl by poets and historians. 

 Agnes Strickland says, that Henry of Lan- 

 caster, when in exile, gave it to the Duchess of 

 Bretagne, and by placing it on his collar of 

 S. S. with the initial letter of his mot or 

 watchword, " Souveigne vous de moy," ren- 

 dered it the symbol of remendjrance. Bishop 

 Mant gives us the traditionary creed more 

 generally received, though certainly less en- 

 titled to belief. A lady and a knight were 

 sitting by the river side, when the former 

 wished for the bright blue l)loissoms to braid 

 among her hair. The knight dashed into the 

 water to gratify her wishes, and gathered 

 the flowers, but was overborne by the strength 

 of the current. 



" Tlica the lilossoms blue to the bank he tlirew 

 Ere lie sank in the eddying tide ; 

 And ' Lady, I'm gone, thine own knight true, 

 Forget me not,' he cried. 



" The farewell pledge the lady caught. 

 And hence, as legends say, 

 The flower is a sign to awaken thought 

 Of friends wlio are far away." 



