115 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
I 
Egotism, Poet’s Narcissus. See p. 32. 
Elegance, Rose Acacia. 
Elevation, Fir. 
Eloquence, Water Lily. 
O 
“ Brilliant thyself in store of dazzling white, 
Thy sister plants more gaudy robes unfold: 
This flames in purple; that, intensely bright 
Amid the illumined waters, burns in gold. 
To brave Osiris’ fiery beam is thine, 
Till in the distant west his splendors fade; 
Thou, too, thy beauties and thy fire decline, 
With morn to rise, in lovelier charms arrayed. 
Thus from Arabia, borne on golden wings, 
The phoenix on the sun’s bright altar dies, 
But from his flaming bed refulgent springs, 
And cleaves with bolder plume the sapphire skies.” 
T. Maurice. 
The Egyptians consecrated the lotus to the god of elo¬ 
quence, and it forms part of the head-dress of Osiris. The 
East Indian gods are often represented in the midst of water, 
