98 
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
prizes are awarded. Formerly it was the custom for 
the victors to go in procession to the church, and 
cover with a shower of roses the marble tomb of 
Clemence, in compliance with a request in her will. 
The statue which adorned this tomb was removed to 
the town hall in 1557, and a few years later its coro¬ 
nation with roses was substituted for the strewing on 
the grave, the religious authorities objecting to that 
as a relic of pagan rites. 
Four flowers have been added to the first three, 
since the time of Isaure ; and the amaranth now usurps 
the place of the violet as the jior sobrana or sover¬ 
eign flower. The prizes at the present day are as 
follows : — 
A golden amaranth for the best ode. 
A golden eglantine for the best piece of prose. 
A silver violet for the best heroic poem, or epistle 
in verse. 
A silver marigold for an eclogue, idyl, elegy, or 
ballad. 
A silver primrose for the best fable or apologue. 
A silver lily for a sonnet or hymn in honor of the 
Virgin Mary. 
A silver pink is given as a prize of encouragement 
under either head. 
