POETRY OF FLOWERS. 
221 
“Violets dim, 
But sweeter than the lids of Juno’s eyes, 
Or Cytherea’s breath.” 
The frequent allusions made to “ the nodding 
violet” by the great dramatist causes it to be 
regarded as his favorite flower; and that, in the 
eyes of many, will not be one of its slightest 
charms. There is no more exquisite passage in 
the whole range of English poesy than that in 
u Twelfth Night,” where the Duke, listening to 
plaintive music, desires 
“ That strain again : it had a dying fall; 
Oh, it came o’er my ear like the sweet South, 
That breathes upon a bank of violets, 
Stealing and giving odor.” 
Whilst the first Napoleon was in exile, this 
little blossom was adopted by his followers as 
an emblem: he was styled Le Pere la Violette, 
and a small bunch of violets hung up in the 
house, or worn by a Frenchman, denoted the 
adherence of the wearer to his fallen chieftain’s 
cause. 
The White Violet, which is not invariably 
scentless, as is sometimes erroneously presumed, 
is emblematic of candor , although some authors 
adopt it as the representative of innocence. 
