"SWEET SUMMER BUDS" 171 



admired by Jesus Christ. At that time, according 

 to the story, the flowers were white and erect on the 

 stalk. During the night of the agony when Our 

 Lord passed through the garden, this flower was the 

 only one that did not bow its head. Later the proud 

 flower bent its head and tears of sorrow filled its cup. 

 Ever since that time the plant has continued to bow 

 in sorrow and its tears flow forever. 



Dr. Forbes Watson loves the flower with its "bold, 

 decided outlines." His description is all too short. 

 "The tall stem," he says, "rises like a mast through 

 the lower leaves, is thence for a short space bare till 

 it is topped by the crowning sheaf of leaf-swords, 

 out of which droop so gracefully the large yellow 

 wax-like bells. Here every line seems to pierce like 

 an arrow, the composition is so clear and masterly." 



The Crown-Imperial appears in the celebrated 

 book called "Guirlande de Julie," which the Due de 

 Montausier gave on New Year's Day, 1634, to n ^ s 

 bride, Julie de Rambouillet. This was a magnifi- 

 cent album: every leaf bore a beautifully painted 

 flower and a verse descriptive of it or in praise 

 of it contributed by different artists and poets. 

 Chapelain chose the Crown-Imperial for his theme, 

 pretending that it sprang from the blood of Gustavus 

 Adolphus of Sweden, who, not being able to offer 



