FLOWERS AS EMBLEMS. 133 



plishes what, if it possessed a nobler nature, would be im- 

 possible. Thus, he continues, mean men, never doubting 

 their own merit or capacity, and unscrupulous of the 

 means they use to elevate themselves or to keep their 

 place, rise to eminences which men of genius and integ- 

 rity could not attain, because they scorn the actions that 

 would insure them success. 



The rose, in all ages, has been regarded as the emblem 

 of beauty and virtue, having in addition to its visual at- 

 tractions a fragrance that always endures. The Hebrew 

 and classical writers have associated this flower with cer- 

 tain divine qualities which are held up for our love and 

 reverence. The lily is no less celebrated, being frequently 

 mentioned in Holy Writ to adorn a parable or to improve 

 the force of some poetic image. Among all nations it 

 is a chosen symbol of meekness and modesty, and it is 

 more frequently celebrated in lyric poetry than any other 

 flower, because it is the semblance, in the highest degree, 

 of those qualities which are favorite themes of the poets. 

 Its paleness is typical of delicacy, while its drooping habit 

 renders it a true emblem of sorrow. It is the metaphori- 

 cal image of the meek and passive virtues, while the per- 

 fume it sends abroad may be compared to the influence 

 of a good man's life. 



I have said nothing of the language of flowers, which 

 seems in general to have only a slight foundation in na- 

 ture. It is rather the result of an agreement to use cer- 

 tain flowers to signify certain words or ideas arbitrarily 

 applied to them. It is indeed but an agreeable form of 

 writing by cipher. In some cases this language is founded 

 on a legend or a poetic fable, in others on the emblematic 

 characters of the flowers. Thus, the violet signifies mod- 

 esty, because its colors are soft, and the flower seems to 

 hide itself from observation. In like manner the sensi- 

 tive plant is expressive of purity, because it shrinks from 



