no THE BOOK OF HERBS 



appropriated to the married and which to the unmarried. 

 Dyer tells us that this custom of strewing them is still 

 kept up in Cheshire, with occasional sad results. Often, 

 the flowers that were strewn were emblematical, and if 

 the bride chanced to be unpopular, she stepped her way 

 to church over flowers whose meanings were the reverse 

 of complimentary ! 



Drayton's contemporaries were more amiable. 



Who now a posie pins not in his cap ? 

 And not a garland baldricli-wise doth wear, 

 Some, of such flowers as to his hand doth hap 

 Others, such as secret meanings bear. 



He, from his lass, him lavender hath sent 

 Shewing her love, and doth requital crave, 

 Him rosemary, his sweetheart whose intent, 

 Is that he her should in remembrance have. 



Roses, his youth and strong desire express, 



Her sage, doth show his sovereignty in all ; 



The July-flower declares his gentleness ; 



Thyme, truth ; the pansie, heartsease, maidens' call. 



Eclogue ix. 



Herbs have pointed proverbs; for instance: "He who 

 sows hatred, shall gather rue," — a saying which some 

 have found to be "ower-true"; and, "The Herb- 

 Patience does not grow in every man's garden," — a piece 

 of wisdom which may be proved only too often. Both 

 these proverbs turn on a pun, but some herbs are alluded 

 to in a literal sense. The old Herbalists used to count 

 Pinks among herbs, and this flower's name is very 

 commonly heard in the expression : " The pink of 

 perfection." Mercutio says in Romeo and Juliet, " I am 

 the very pink of courtesy " ; a phrase which is wonder- 

 fully expressive. Miss Amherst quotes an old ballad to 

 show that the periwinkle was used as a term of praise, 

 for in this, a noble lady, a type of excellence, is called, 

 " The parwink of prowesse." The inelasticity of 

 modern opinions (on herbs) forbids that I should here 



