VIOLET. 377 



We can scarcely trust ourselves to enter upon the praises of the 

 Violet, — the most recherchee of flowers, the beloved of poets : — 



" Long as there are Violets, 



They will have a place in story." 



The ancient poets frequently mention the Violet. The White 

 Violet was the emblem of a hapless lover : — 



" Pallentes violas et summa papavera carpens." 



Virg. Eel. ii. v. 

 " Nee tinctus viola pallor amantium." 



Hot. Carm. 1. 3. Od. x. 



Pliny speaks of three kinds of Violets, purple, yellow, and 

 white. The Violet is always considered an image of modesty, 

 and by some of our old English poets is spoken of as an em- 

 blem of faithfulness, as by the author of a sonnet published in 



1584:— 



" Violet is for faithfulnesse, 

 Which in me shall abide, 

 Hoping, likewise, that from your heart 

 You will not let it slide." 

 The beautiful allusions of Shakspeare have never been sur- 



Violets dim, 



But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes, 

 Or Cytherea's breath." 



Winter's Tale. 



" like the sweet south 



That breathes upon a bank of violets, 

 Stealing and giving odour." 



Twelfth Night. 



The indigenous kinds of Violet amount to eight, including the one be- 

 fore us. The Dog Violet ( V. canina) by some confounded with this spe- 

 cies, is at once known by its want of odour, by possessing an evident stem, 

 cordate acute leaves, acuminate sepals, long toothed stipulae, and subulate 

 bractese. The Hairy Violet (V. hirta) most resembles it, but may be 

 known by the short not creeping scions, by the greater hairiness of the 

 plant, and by the situation of the bracteae below the middle of the scape ; 

 also by its paler, scentless flowers. The Pansy Violet, or Heart's Ease, 

 ( V. tricolor,) is another very common species. 



The plant is cultivated in England for the sake of its petals, particularly 

 at Stratford-upon-Avon. 



Qualities. — The odour of the petals is remarkably fragrant and agree- 

 able, but is lost in drying ; to the taste they are very slightly bitter and 

 mucilaginous ; when chewed tinging the saliva blue. The leaves and 

 root are mucilaginous, and rather nauseous to the taste. The petals yield 

 their colour and flavour to boiling water. The purple they impart to syrup 



