THE HELIOTROPE . 
(Devoted Attachment .) 
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HE Heliotrope divides with the Sunflower the fable 
of representing Clyde, who died of love for the 
sun, the course of which its flowers are supposed 
to follow. 
This is Ovid’s* relation of her fate : 
“ She with distracted passion pines away ; 
Detesteth company ; all night, all day 
Disrobed, with her ruffled hair unbound, 
And wet with humour, sits upon the ground : 
For nine long days all sustenance forbears ; 
Her hunger cloyed with dew, her thirst with tears : 
Nor rose ; but rivets on the god her eyes, 
And ever turns her face to him that flies. 
At length to earth her stupid body cleaves ; 
Her wan complexion turns to bloodless leaves. 
Yet streaked with red, her perished limbs beget 
A flower resembling the pale violet, 
Which with the sun, though rooted fast, doth move, 
And being changed, changeth not her love.” 
THE HELIOTROPE. 
ANON. 
There is a flower whose modest eye 
Is turned with looks of light and love, 
Who breathes her sweetest, softest sigh, 
Whene’er the sun is bright above. 
* Sandys’s translation.. 
