66 The Crown Imperial. 



of the corol ; seeds flat. The specific name, Imperialis, is de- 

 rived from its commanding deportment and brilliant colors. 

 Flowers under a leafy crown, nodding. Leaves, lancelinear, 

 entire. Some consider it the emblem of Majesty, others of 

 Pride. Dr. Langhorne says : 



From Bactria's vales, where beauty blows 



Luxuriant in the genial ray, 

 Where flowers a bolder gem disclose, 



And deeper drink the golden day. 



From Bactria's vale, to Britain's shore, 



What time the Crown Imperial came, 

 Full high the stately stranger bore 



The honors of his birth and name. 



In all the pomp of Eastern state, 



In all the Eastern glory gay, 

 He bade, with native pride elate, 



Each flower of humbler birth obey. 



In the Flora Historica, Phillips gives the history of this 

 flower at full length. We will copy his article. The Crown 

 Imperial, says he, is one of the flowers that was first intro- 

 duced into England in the time of Shakspeare. Gerard, who, 

 in his day, was the principal writer on plants, tells us, in 1597, 

 that he had then plenty of the Fritillary in his garden, at Hol- 

 born, but he calls it a rare and strange plant. It was first sent 

 from Constantinople, into the Christian countries of Europe, by 

 Clusius, who forwarded it first to Vienna, in the year 1576, 

 stating it to be a native of Persia, growing in the woods of that 

 country. It was, therefore, for some time, called Lilium Persi- 

 cum, Persian Lily ; but as there was already another Persian Lily 

 growing in the European gardens, Alphonsus Pauciuis, Phy- 

 sician to the Duke of Florence, when he sent a drawing of it to 

 M. John de Brandon, named it Corona Imperialis. Madame de 

 Genlis thinks the name originated from the celebrated Guirlande 

 de Julie, Chapeiain having, under the painting of this flower, 

 written a poor metamorphosis in compliment to Julie, who was 

 a great admirer of Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, who 

 lost his life in the battle he gained in the plains of Lutzen. The 

 poet says, that had this monarch gained the Imperial Crown, he 

 would have offered it with his hand, to Julie ; but as the fates have 



