HYACINTH. 
85 
The following day was spent in feasting. Hence, 
perhaps, one of the floral meanings—“ Play.” The purple 
hyacinth signifies sorrow, as it is said to bear on its petals 
Apollo’s lament for his friend—Ai, Ai—but we fail to 
trace the letters now. 
An allusion to Hyacinthus will also be recognised in 
Milton’s “ Lycidas 
“ Like to that sanguine flower inscribed with woe.”* 
THE HYACINTH. 
CASIMIR. 
Child of the Spring, thou charming flower, 
No longer in confinement lie, 
Arise to light, thy form discover, 
Rival the azure of the sky. 
The rains are gone, the storms are o’er, 
Winter retires to make thee way; 
Come, then, thou sweetly blooming flower, 
Come lovely stranger, come away. 
The sun is dressed in beaming smiles, 
To give thy beauties to the day: 
Young zephyrs wait with gentlest gales, 
To fan thy bosom as they play. 
Apollo wrote on its leaves his lament, Ai, Ai. 
