12 NATURAL HISTORY OF SHAKESPEARE . 
King Henry. ... I think the king is but a 
man, as I am; the violet smells to him as it doth to 
me; 
King Henry V., Act iv. Scene i. 
Salisbury. To throw a perfume on the violet, 
Is wasteful, and ridiculous excess. 
King John, Act iv. Scene 2. 
Laertes. A violet in the youth of primy nature, 
Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, 
Ophelia. I would give you some violets ; but they 
withered all, when my father died :— 
Laertes. Lay her i’ the earth ; 
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh 
May violets spring ! 
Hamlet, Act i. Scene 3 ; Act iv. Scene 5 ; Act v. Scene 1. 
Belarius. They are as gentle 
As zephyrs, blowing below the violet, 
Not wagging his sweet head : 
Cymbeline, Act iv. Scene 2. 
When I behold the violet past prime, 
Sonnet XII. 
The forward violet thus did I chide :— 
Sweet thief, whence didst thou steal thy sweet that 
smells, 
If not from my love’s breath ? 
Sonnet XCIX. 
