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cousin Orientalis Hyacinthus knows my feelings, 
for I am not in the habit of communicating them to 
her. If she did not belong to the great family of 
Lilies, of which I also am a member, and whose 
motto is Peace, I should say some things of her 
that I could say,—but I shall content myself with 
telling you my history, and leave you to judge which 
has the most reason to complain of their destiny. 
My native country is Persia, and my name is the 
same as that which is given to the head-dress of 
Persian princes and nobles. It is only in foreign 
countries that my family has ceased to be highly 
valued, for in my native land we are still held in 
honor. I was myself present at a feast of Tulips, 
in the Seraglio of the Sultan at Constantinople, to 
which I was sent from Persia by particular request. 
It is impossible to give you any idea of the splendor 
of that festival, for there never was any thing like it 
