SWEET SULTAN. 



" Deep in the shade of a flowery vale, 

 Its frail form waves in the passing gale ;" — Anon. 



and then its rich purple, which Byron speaks of, 



" The sweetness of the Violet's deep blue eyes 

 Kissed by the breath of heaven, seem coloured by the skies." 



The fondness of this flower for the most retired spots, over- 

 grown by grass, often in the very depth of the hawthorn 

 hedge, where its presence can only be detected by the fra- 

 grance which Zephyr steals from her in passing, and diffuses 

 through space, has made the Sweet-scented Violet the proper 

 emblem of Modesty ; and so Miss Taylor sings of it. 



" Down in a green and shady bed, a modest Violet grew ; 

 Its stalk was bent, it hung its head, as if to hide from view. 



And yet it was a lowly flower, its colour bright and fair ; 

 It might have graced a rosy bower, instead of hiding there. 



Yet thus it was content to bloom, in modest tints arrayed ; 

 And there diffused a sweet perfume, within the silent shade." 



SWEET SULTAN (Centaurea mosckaia).^-HAVFmESS. 



In the East, of which this handsome border flower is a 

 native, the Sweet Sultan is considered the emblem of 

 Supreme Happiness. 



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