298 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



German name of maw-seed, as a cooling food for singing 

 birds. 



The statues of Ceres are commonly adorned with Pop- 

 pies, they being ever the faithful companions of corn. 



Virgil has a fine comparison, which was copied by 

 Ariosto, of a beautiful youth dying, to a Poppy surcharged 

 with rain : 



-" Sed viribus ensis adactus 



Transadigit costas, et Candida pectora rumpit. 

 Volvitur Euryalus leto, pulchrosque per artus 

 It cruor, inque humeros cervix collapsa recurabit. 

 Purpureus veluti cum flos succisus aratro 

 Languescit moriens; lassove papavera collo 

 Demisere caput, pluvia cum forte gravantur." 



VIRGIL, Book IX. 



' ' But the sword, strongly driven, pierces through his side, and rends 

 his white bosom. Euryalus falls to the earth. The blood streams 

 over his beauteous limbs, and his head droops upon his shoulder. Like 

 a purple flower cut down by the plough, he languishes in death ; or as a 

 poppy on its weary neck bows down its head when overcharged with 

 rain." 



" Come purpurea fior languendo more, 

 Che T vomere al passar tagliato lassa, 

 O come carco di superchio umore 

 II papaver nell' orto il capo abbassa ; 

 Cosi, qui della faccia ogni colore 

 Cadendo, Dardinel di vita passa; 

 Passa di vita, e fa passar con lui 

 L' ardire, e la virtu di tutti i sui." 



ARIOSTO, Canto 18, Stanza 153. 



" Like the red flower which in its languor lies, 

 Left by the plough-share not to rise again ; 

 Or as the poppy bows its head, and dies 

 Beneath the silver burthen of the rain ; 

 So with his colour fled, and closing eyes, 

 Dardinel's soul is gone ; he clasps the plain; 

 His soul is gone ; and with it, gone and fled 

 The life and soul of all the men he led." 



