FORGET-ME-NOT. 
183 
FORGET-ME-NOT. 
The name of this beautiful little flower, 
which enamels the banks of our rivers with its 
corollas of celestial blue, corresponds with the 
signification that is now universally attached to 
it. That name it derived from a German tradi¬ 
tion full of melancholy romance. It is related 
that a young couple, on the eve of being united, 
whilst walking along the delightful banks of the 
Danube, saw a cluster of these lovely flowers 
floating on the stream, which was bearing it 
away. The affianced bride admired the beauty 
of the flower, and lamented its fatal destiny. 
The lover plunged into the water to secure it; 
no sooner had he caught it than he found him¬ 
self sinking, but, making a last effort, he threw it 
on the bank at the feet of his betrothed, and, at 
the moment of disappearing for ever, exclaimed 
Vergiss mein nicht! Since that event, this flower 
has been made emblematical of the sentiment, 
and been distinguished by the name of Forget- 
me-not. Its Linnean appellation is Myosotis 
