■ The Crown Imperial. 67 



metamorphosed him into this plant, it is given to her under the 

 name of Couronne Imperiale, which title appears to have been 

 adopted in all the European languages. Modern Botanists have 

 since bestowed the name of Fritillaria on a family of plants, of 

 which this is, from deportment and brilliancy of coloring, the 

 chief. 



The Lily's height bespoke command, 



A fair imperial flower, 

 It seemed designed for Flora's hand, 



The sceptre of her power. 



In the Turkish language, this flower is called Tusai or Tuschai, 

 as well as Turfani or Turfanda ; and as it was obtained from 

 the Turks under this name, it ought, in justice, to have retained 

 its original appellation. 



The Lily of the turbaned countries towers above all the flowers 

 of our vernal parterres, throwing up its tall stem amidst the dwarf 

 flowers of April, like the tall palm amidst trees, or a pagoda 

 arising out of a Chinese town. At the end of its stem is sup- 

 ported a circle of Tulip-shaped corollas, turned downwards, 

 which have the appearance of so many gay bells, the stigma 

 answering for the clapper. The whole being crowned by a 

 coma, or tuft of green leaves, gives it a singular and agreeable 

 effect ; and when the bulbs are suffered to remain two or three 

 years in the earth, which should be a light, dry soil, free from 

 manure, they frequently send up a stem that carries two or three 

 whorls of pendulous flowers above each other : it is then called 

 the Triple Crown. 



Numerous varieties of this flower have been raised from seed, 

 by the patient perseverance of the Dutch florists ; but the most 

 desirable varieties are those of the gayest colors, such as the bright 

 yellow and brilliant red, as the dingy colors and variegated kinds 

 make less show in the garden. This Imperial flower is not 

 without its body-guard, to keep its admirers at a proper distance, 

 for it possesses so strong a scent of the fox, combined with that 

 of garlic, as to ensure it protection from meddling fingers, and its 

 safety from the saloon vase. [And also from the writings of the 

 poet ; notwithstanding its extremely beautiful appearance, this 

 elegant looking flower, on account of the strong disagreeable 

 odor of its blossoms, is universally disliked. Ben Jonson men- 



