HELIOTROPE. 
113 
THE HELIOTROPE. 
{Devoted Attachment.) 
n~^HE Heliotrope divides with the Sunflower the 
-L fable of representing Clytie, who died of love for 
the sun, the course of which its flowers are supposed to 
follow. 
This is Ovid's* relation of her fate : 
“ She with distracted passion pines away; 
Detesteth company ; ail night, all day 
Disrobed, with her ruffled hair unbound, 
And wet with humor, sits upon the ground : 
For nine long days all sustenance forbears ; 
Her hunger cloyed with dew, her thirst with tears : 
Nor rose ; but rivets on the god her eyes, 
And ever turns her face to him that flies. 
At length to earth her stupid body cleaves ; 
Her wan complexion turns to bloodless leaves. 
Yet streaked with red, her perished limbs beget 
A flower resembling the pale violet, 
Which with the sun, though rooted fast, doth move, 
And being changed, ehangeth not her love.” 
THE HELIOTROPE. 
ANON. 
There is a flower whose modest eye 
Ts turned with looks of light and love, 
Who breathes her sweetest, softest sigh, 
Whene’er the sun is bright above. 
* Sandys’s translation. 
