HERBS CHIEFLY USED IN THE PAST 71 



recollections," a very pretty allegorical meaning. But it 

 has been the symbol of memories anything but happy, for 

 curiously enough, this sun's flower means Grief in the 

 language of flowers, and in many countries is connected 

 with the idea of death. This thought occurs in Pericles 

 and in the song in "Two noble Kinsmen." In 

 America, one name for them is death-flowers, because 

 there is a tradition that they " sprang upon ground 

 stained by the life-blood of these unfortunate Mexicans 

 who fell victims to the love of gold and arrogant 

 cruelty of the early Spanish settlers in America." ^ 

 However, to restore the balance of happiness, one learns 

 that to dream of Marigolds augurs wealth, prosperity, 

 success, and a rich and happy marriage ! In Fuller's 

 " Antheologia, or the Speech of Flowers " — a most 

 amusing tale — the Marigold occupies a prominent 

 place. The scene opens with a dispute in the Flowers' 

 Parliament between the Tulip and the Rose. "Whilst 

 this was passing in the Upper House of Fkivers, no less 

 were the transactions in the Lower House of the Herbs ; 

 where there was a general acclamation against Wormivood. 

 Wormwood's friends were casually absent that day, mak- 

 ing merry at an entertainment, her enemies (let not that 

 sex be angry for making Wormwood feminine) appeared 

 in full body and made so great a noise, as if some mouths 

 had two tongues in them." Wormwood and the Tulip 

 were eventually both cast out of the garden, and lying 

 by the roadside addressed themselves to a passing Wild 

 Boar, telling him of a hole in the hedge, by which he 

 may creep into the garden and revenge them, and amuse 

 himself by destroying the flowers. At the moment he 

 enters, " Thrift, a Flower-Herb, was just courting 

 Marigold as follows : ' Mistress of all Flowers that 

 grow on Earth, give me leave to profess my sincerest 

 affections to you. ... I have taken signal notice of your 



1 Folkard. 



