THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. II 
The Red and White Roses were assumed 
by the rival houses of York and Lancaster, 
and led the tide of civil strife in twelve 
deadly battles. 
The Rose became the badge of England, 
and shares a nation’s fame. 
Scotland well expressed the patience, 
hardihood, and “ retaliation " of her people 
when she crowned the Thistle. 
Ireland preserved the memory of the 
holiest truth in her Shamrock. 
The Lilies of France worthily rivalled 
the queenly Rose of England, and were a 
war-cry of chivalry. 
“Now by the lips of those you love, fair gentle¬ 
men of France, 
Charge for the golden lilies, upon them with the 
lance.” 
And England long joined those ‘‘golden 
lilies ” with her own deathless rose, when 
she was, like an eagle, “ at prey on her 
neighbour’s too-near coasts. 
There was a most poetic fancy in the sen¬ 
timent that linked the Violet to the name 
of Napoleon. Springing in obscurity, and 
retaining its perfume in death, it was a 
