Garlands of Flowers. 147 



the palate, or that two senses might be gratified at the same 

 time ; but it was thought that certain plants and flowers facili- 

 tated the functions of the brain, and assisted materially to neutral- 

 ize the inebriating fumes of liquor. Even the warriors did not 

 hesitate to crown themselves with flowers during the principal 

 repast, which custom the Romans undoubtedly derived from the 

 East. The most celebrated Parisian milliner is not more eagerly 

 sough tafter in modern times than the plaiter of garlands was in 

 the days of antiquity, if we may judge from the account which 

 Pliny has handed down to us. The Sicyonians were considered 

 to surpass all other people in arranging the colors of these gar- 

 lands, and giving them the most agreeable mixture of per- 

 fumes, which art they derived from Glycera, a woman of great 

 ingenuity among them. We are also told of two renowned 

 Greek physicians who compiled several books on the virtues 

 of chaplets, enumerating such as were hurtful to the brain, and 

 others that refreshed the spirits. It was also a frequent custom 

 among them to mix the flowers of their chaplets in their wine 

 when they pledged the health of their friends, as the following an- 

 ecdote will show. Notwithstanding the great pains which Cleo- 

 patra took to please and amuse Antony, it was a considerable time 

 before she could gain his entire confidence, as it appears that he 

 would never eat or drink at her table without causing his taster 

 first to partake of every viand, in order to discover if treachery 

 lurked disguised in the midst of the luxuries of this subtle queen. 

 This jealousy seems to have increased about the time he was 

 preparing his expedition against Augustus, when the artful beauty 

 who had so captivated the warrior, took the following device to 

 satisfy him of her true attachment, and at the same time ridicule 

 his mistrust and timid fears. The queen had a chaplet of 

 flowers prepared for Antony, the edges of which were dipped 

 in the most deadly poison, whilst that which was formed for her 

 own head was as usual mixed with aromatic spices. At the 

 banquet, the general received his coronet of flowers, and when 

 they had become cheerful through the aid of Bacchus, Cleopatra 

 pledged him in wine, and taking off the garland from her head, 

 and rubbing it in her goblet, drank off the contents. Antony was 

 just following her example ; but just as he had got the fatal cup 

 to his lips, the queen seized his arm, exclaiming, " Cease your 

 jealous fears, and learn how I have not the means to seek of your 



