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FLORAL POESt. 
VIOLET. 
(Modesty.) 
“The violet is for modesty.” —Burns. 
Y IOLETS, considered by some as typical of modesty, 
by others are deemed emblematic of faithfulness ; 
and the latter have the support of one of Shakspeare's 
contemporary poets : 
“Violet is for faithfulness, 
Which in me shall abide ; 
Hoping likewise that from your heart 
You will not let it slide.” 
“ The violet was as proud a device of the Ionic 
Athenians,’'' says a well-known author, “as the rose of 
England and the lily of France. In all seasons it was to 
be seen exposed for sale in the market-place at Athens, 
the citizens being successful in rearing it in their gar¬ 
dens even when the ground was covered with snow.” 
The Greeks called this flower “ Ion,” and it was said 
that Jupiter caused the first violet to spring up in the 
grass, when the unhappy Io, metamorphosed into a 
heifer, bent her lips to eat. 
Perdita, when wishing for flowers to give her guests, 
in the “ Winter’s Tale,” thus speaks of the beauty and 
perfume of violets : 
“Violets dim, 
But sweeter than the lids of Juno’s eyes, 
Or Cytherea’s breath.” 
The frequent allusions made to “ the nodding violet ” 
by our great dramatist cause it to be regarded as his 
