MAKE 'THE CITY BEAUTIFUL" 13 



Well becoming; a heavenly maid. 

 Ethereal lovely and sweet, 

 Thy presence we joyously greet. 



Thy mother, fair Iris, in beauty supreme, 

 Took all her rich fabrics of loveliest sheen, 

 The robes of the rainbow, flower garden of air, 

 Of bewildering beauty, resplendently fair, 

 And made for her child such a dazzling dress 

 No daughter of royalty e'er could possess." 

 Harrison: The Iris. 



Origin of Name The origin of its name is as fanciful as its 

 color. 



Ph'ny wrote that "iris" is Egyptian for "eye" and that the 

 name Iris signifies Eye of Heaven. 



The word "iris" is the Greek for "rainbow." In Grecian 

 ' mythology Iris, the rainbow personified, was one of the minor 

 goddesses and messenger of the greater divinities, particularly of 

 Juno. 



"Meantime, to beauteous Helen, from the skies 

 The various goddess of the rainbow flies." 



Homer: Iliad (Pope's) III. 



"Various Iris, Jove's commands to bear, 

 Speeds on the wings of winds through liquid air." 

 Homer: Iliad (Pope's) II. 



"Jove descending shook the Idaean hills, 

 And down their summits pour'd a hundred rills, 

 The unkindled lightning in his hand he took, 

 And thus the many-colour'd maid bespoke : 

 'Iris with haste thy golden wings display, 



To godlike Hector this our word convey 



* * * * 



He spoke, and Iris at his word obey'd ; 

 On wings of winds descends the various maid." 

 Homer: Iliad (Pope's) XL 



"Hail, many-colored messenger, that ne'er 

 Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter; 

 Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers 

 Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers." 

 Shakespeare: Tempest. 



