94 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
ACANTHUS. 
THE ARTS. 
The Acanthus delights in hot climates by the 
side of great rivers. It thrives, nevertheless, 
in temperate climates. The tasteful ancients 
adorned their furniture, their vases, and their 
costly dresses, with its elegant leaves. Yirgil 
says that the robe of Helen was embroidered 
with a wreath of Acanthus. 
This charming model of the Arts has thus 
become their emblem, as it might also he of 
the genius which causes its possessor to excel 
in them. When any obstacle obstructs the 
growth of the Acanthus, it puts forth fresh force, 
and grows with additional vigour. Thus genius 
is strengthened and exalted by the very obsta¬ 
cles which it cannot overcome. 
It is related of Callimachus the architect, that, 
as he was passing near the tomb of a young 
female, who died a few days before her intended 
marriage, touched with pity, he approached to 
