ROSEMARY. 



ROSEMARY {Rosmarinus officinalis). — Your Presence 

 Revives me. 



Hungary water is said to be distilled from Rosemary, 

 which is refreshing in its fragrance. It was formerly thought 

 to give vigour to the nervous system, to remove headache, 

 and to strengthen the memory, on which account Shakspeare 

 wrote, — 



" There's Rosemary — that's for remembrance ; ' pray you, love, re- 

 member ; ' " 



Rosemary was also deemed the emblem of Fidelity between 

 lovers, and so was worn at weddings. It symbolized 

 repentance, and hence its adoption at funerals, as in Wales 

 and Cheshire. At such times a few stalks are bound together 

 and presented to each of the mourners, who, when the de- 

 parted friend is consigned to the grave, cast in their bunches 

 upon the coffin, thereby expressing, as we presume, their 

 faithful and lasting remembrance of the dead. Kirke White 

 addresses it as a funeral flower, 



" Come, funeral flower ! who lov'st to dwell 



With the pale corpse in lonely tomb, 

 ***** 



My grave shall be in yon lone spot, 

 Where, as I lie, by all forgot, 

 A dying fragrance thou wilt o'er my ashes shed." 



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