The Hyacinthine hair of the antients, has alfo engaged the attention of the inquisitive, fucceedirtg poets copying 

 the expreffion from Homer, who defcribes UlyJJes thus, in Pope or Broome's tranflation : 



" Back from his brows a length of hair unfurls, 

 " His hyacinthine locks defend in wavy curls. 

 " As by fome art if, to whom Vulcan gives 

 u His fill divine, a breathing fatue lives', 

 " By Pallas taught, he frames the wond'rous mould, 

 s ' And o 3 er the fiver pours the fufile gold; 

 " So Pallas his heroic frame improves 

 " With heavnly bloom, and like a god he moves." 



This paffage is thus imitated by Milton, in his defcription of the perfon of Adam. 



" His fair large front and eye fublime declared 



cc Abjolute rule ; and hyacinthine locks 



" Round from his parted forelock manly hung 



u Clufring, but not' beneath his fhoulders broad." 



It is furprmng that all the commentators mould agree, in fuppofing Homer means blackhair by his allufion to the 

 Hyacinth, when he elfewhere in the Odyfley, defcribes Ulffes withjy ellow or golden hair : " AvQuq S*ex xsQaXris oXeera rpi^ag" 

 which correfponds with the fimile in the above mentioned quotation, where the poet compares the hair flowing on 

 his hero's fhoulders, to gold inlaid on fiver. But perhaps Homer did not intend to exprels any colour by alluding 

 to the Hyacinth : this line in the original, " OvXag qx.s xopag vuxtvQivo uvQei opotug," may be literally translated thus : 



" She let down his hair curled like a Hyacinth fower." 



The Hyacinthus comofus, and its variety the Hyacinthus monfrofus, or feathered Hyacinth, bear a ftrong refemblance 

 to curled hair, and are natives of the warmer parts of Europe. 



A defire to point out the connexion between botany and polite literature, has occasionally induced us to 

 venture on hints and remarks of this kind, which the learned reader will, we hope, look on with an indulgent 

 eye, and remember that our attempts, fuch as they are, add little to the bulk, and .nothing to the expence, of 

 the work. 



