in valleys to shun the love of Apollo 

 and stained her face purple to defend 

 herself. The rose is Rhodanthe, proud 

 of her beauty, but changed into a tree 

 by Apollo, whilst the populace who 

 had adored her are converted into 

 thorns and her chief lovers into snails 

 and butterflies. 



Besides being the emblem of humil- 

 ity the violet is held to signify love of 

 truth. Poor Ophelia says to the Queen : 

 " I would give you some violets, but 

 they withered all when my father died." 



A Dutch traveller, who visited Eng- 

 land in 1 ^60, has much to say in his 

 letters about English comfort and 

 luxury. The flowers please him 

 greatly, and he notes the floors being 

 strewn with sweet herbs, which give 

 great refreshment. Also " their nose- 

 gays finely intermingled with sundry 

 sorts of fragraunte floures, in their 

 bed chambers and privi rooms with 

 45 



