THE PIMPERNEL. 



Ma muse en sa faveur de myrte s'est parde : 

 J'ai voulu cdldbrer I'amant de Cythdrde, 

 Adonis, dont la vie eut des termes si courts, 

 Qui fut pleurd des Ris, qui fut plaint des Amours." 



All the readers of ancient mythology know that the beautiful 

 youth Adonis was killed by a wild boar. It was for his 

 sake that Venus left the pleasures of Cythera ; and she shed 

 bitter tears on account of his sad fate. Her tears were not 

 in vain. The earth received them with the blood of Adonis, 

 and forthwith brought forth a small plant that decked itself 

 with flowers which resembled drops of blood. Venus found 

 Adonis dead, and while she was wailing and weeping, 

 Shakspeare says, 



" By this, the boy that hy her side lay killed 

 Was melted like a vapour from her sight. 

 And in his blood, that on the ground lay spilled, 

 A purple flower sprung up, chequered with white, 

 Resembling well his pale cheeks, and the blood 

 Which in round drops upon their whiteness stood." 



Lustrous and transient flowers, too faithful emblems of life, 

 you were dedicated by Beauty herself to Sorrowful Remem- 

 brances ! 



THE PIMPERNEL {Anagallis arwwi-w).— ASSIGNATION. 



The name Anagallis is said by some to be derived from 

 avdyetv, to draw back, because the most common kind was 

 found useful in drawing arrow-heads from wounds ; by others 



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