VIOLET. 
49 
The White Violet is also made the emblem of 
innocence; and, from the following lines, by a 
poet of the sixteenth century, it appears to have 
been then considered as a symbol of constancy: 
Violet is for faithfulness, 
Which in me shall abide ; 
Hoping likewise that from your heart 
You will not let it slide. 
The poetry, the romance, and the scenery, of 
every country are embroidered with Violets. 
Violets dim. 
But sweeter than the lids of Juno’s eyes, 
Or Cytherea’s breath. 
Shakspeare. 
From several other passages in Shakspeare’s 
works, it is evident that the Violet was a fa¬ 
vourite with our great dramatist. We doubt if 
the poetry of any language can produce lines 
more exquisitely beautiful than these, in which 
he compares the soft strains of plaintive music 
to the perfume of Violets :— 
That strain again !—it had a dying fall !— 
Oh! it came o’er my ear like the sweet south. 
That breathes upon a bank of Violets, 
Stealing and giving odour. 
3 
Twelfth Night 
