18S LYCKSELE LAPLAND. 



Chamcedaphne of Buxbaum (Andromeda 

 polifolia) was at this time in its highest 

 beauty, decorating the marshy grounds in 

 a most agreeable manner. The flowers are 

 quite blood-red before they expand, but 

 when full-grown the corolla is of a flesh- 

 colour. Scarcely any painter's art can so 

 happily imitate the beauty of a fine female 

 complexion ; still less could any artificial 

 colour upon the face itself bear a compari- 

 son with this lovely blossom. As I con- 

 templated it I could not help thinking of 

 Andromeda as described by the poets ; 

 and the more I meditated upon their de- 

 scriptions, the more applicable they seemed 

 to the little plant before me, so that if 

 these writers had had it in view, they could 

 scarcely have contrived a more apposite 

 fable. Andromeda is represented by them 

 as a virgin of most exquisite and unrivalled 

 charms ; but these charms remain in per- 

 fection only so long as she retains her vir- 

 gin purity, which is also applicable to the 

 plant, now preparing to celebrate its nup- 



