Amaranth. 
245 
some amaranths, both purple and yellow, which he has had by 
him for several years, enclosed with some locks of hair in a 
little marble urn. They look as vivid as if they were put in 
yesterday.” 
Homer describes the Thessalians as wearing- crowns of these 
funereal flowers at the entombment of Achilles; and Spenser 
and Milton both class the amaranth as amongst “those flowers 
that sad embroidery wear,” the brilliancy of its glowing colours 
notwithstanding. The most admired species of this plant is a 
native of the West Indies, and is called the “tricolor,” on ac¬ 
count of its variegated hues of crimson, green, and gold. The 
Spaniards call it “the parrot,” the feathers of which gaudily- 
plumed bird Gerarde considers its flowers resemble. At the 
floral games held at Toulouse—as a brilliant compliment to 
the deserver of immortality—a golden amaranth was awarded 
as prize for the best lyric composition. 
In 1633, Queen Christiana of Sweden gave an entertainment 
in honour of Don Antonio Pimentel, the Spanish ambassador. 
She appeared on this occasion in a dress covered with dia¬ 
monds, and was attended by a splendid train of nobles and 
ladies. At the conclusion of the ball she stripped her attire 
of the diamonds, and distributed them among the company, 
and at the same time presented her favourite nobles with the 
insignia of a new order of knighthood, consisting of a riband 
and medal, with an amaranth in enamel, encircled with the 
motto, Dolce nella memoria. 
One of the most popular species of the amaranth is the 
“ Love-lies-bleeding.” The origin of this singular appellation is 
not known, but it has been suggested that the following verses 
of Moore’s account for it. The daughter of O'Connor is la¬ 
menting over the tomb of Connocht Moran: 
“A hero’s bride i this desert bower. 
It ill befits thy gentle breeding : 
And wherefore dost thou love this flower 
To call ‘ my-love-lies-bleeding ’ ? 
“This purple flower my tears have nursed ; 
A hero’s blood supplied its bloom : 
I love it, for it was the first 
That grew on Connocht Moran’s tomb.” 
In Portugal and other warmer climes than ours, they adorn 
