232 
BRAMBLES A^D BAY LEAVES. 
occurs where poor Ophelia, in her madness, goes to make 
“ fantastic garlands ”— 
“ Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,” 
which are all emblematical flowers, and tell a silent tale 
of her broken heart. The first signifies fair maid; the 
second, stung to the quick the third, her virgin bloom ; 
the fourth, mider the cold hand of death; and the 
whole, being wild flowers, might denote the bewildered 
state of her faculties . No wreath could have been 
chosen more emblematical of the sorrows of this beautiful 
blossom, blighted by disappointed love, and withered by 
filial sorrow."* 
* H. G. Adams. 
