POETRY OF FLOWERS. 27 
“ Thai wretched queen, Adonis bewailing, 
For every drop of blood lets fall a tear; 
Two blooming flowers the mingled streams disclosed : 
Anemone the tears; the blood, a rose.” 
Ovid’s account of the metamorphosis is that 
Venus, lamenting over the bleeding body of her 
lover, endeavored to perpetuate his memory and 
commemorate her grief by transforming his 
blood into a flower. 
Some writers say this delicate blossom re¬ 
ceived its name of the wind-flower because 
many of the species grow on elevated places, 
where they are exposed to the rough embraces 
of old Boreas. 
“ Coy anemone, that ne’er uncloses 
Her lips until they’re blown on by the wind.” 
It would certainly seem more characteristic 
for these frail blossoms to open their lips to the 
kisses of the sun, for, when he shines, 
“Thick strewn in woodland bowers, 
Anemones their stars unfold.” 
The anemones are natives of the East, whence 
their roots were originally brought. Their spe¬ 
cies are very numerous and have been much 
improved and diversified by culture. 
The Avise Egyptians, who beheld a deep signi- 
