Flos Adonis. 
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it. In the southern corn-fields of England it is very often seen, 
lifting up its deep red cup amongst the green slender leaves 
of the barley and wheat long before their grain appears. Like 
its namesake the beautiful hunter, it is said to be an enemy to 
the corn ; but its bright and transient blossoms fade quickly 
—as quickly, let us hope, as the recollections which they 
symbolize. 
In Leigh Hunt’s “ Foliage,” there is a translation from the 
Greek pastoral poet Theocritus, which alludes to the classic 
story that this favourite of Venus was allowed to revisit and 
spend six months of the year with her on earth, alternately 
with six months spent with Proserpine in the lower regions: 
“ Go, beloved Adonis, go, 
Year by year thus to and fro.” 
