164 



The Garden Magazine, December, 1919 



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"FAIR CROWN IMPERIAL, EMPEROR OF FLOWERS—" 



Ovid's Banquet of Sense — Chapman 



" for its stately beautifulnesse deserveth the first place 



in this our garden of delight, to be here entreated before all other 

 Lillies." Paradisus Terrestris — Parkinson 



"In the bottome of each of the bells there is placed six drops of 

 mcst cleere shining sweet water, in taste like sugar, resembling in shew 

 fair Orient pearls, the which drops if you take away, there do immedi- 

 ately appeare the like; notwithstanding, if they may be suffered to stand 

 still in the floure according to his owne nature, they wil never fall away, 

 no, not if you strike the plant untill it be broken." Gerard's Herbal 



And the ancient legend says that this lovely flower grew in the Garden of Gethsemane, white 

 fn color and with head erect, where it was often noticed and admired by Jesus in passing, in the 

 night of the agony it alone of all the flowers in the Garden did not bow its head however, when 

 He passed by; but very soon, overcome by shame and sorrow, the Crown Imperial drooped and 

 blushed, and tears of regret and sorrow soon followed. And "so she has ever continued, with 

 bent head, blushing colour, and ever-flowing tears." 



