50 
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
favorite with florists. But through all changes it still 
preserves its beauty and fragrance. The great Condo 
loved and cultivated carnations, and had the courage to 
wear one in his button-hole before Louis XI V., whose 
aversion to perfumes is well known. 
Pope says, — 
“ To the Elysian shades 
Dismiss my soul, where no carnation fades.” 
And in one of the most enchanting scenes that even 
Shakspeare ever wrote, he makes sweet Perdita say, — 
“The fairest flowers of the season 
Are our carnations and streaked gillyflowers.” 
VERVAIN {Verbena hastata) . Enchantment. 
Vervain was used among the ancients in various kinds 
of divination, and_ among other properties, that of 
reconciling enemies was attributed to it. When the 
Homans sent heralds to carry to nations peace or war, 
one of them carried vervain. The Druids had the great¬ 
est veneration for this plant; before gathering it they 
made a sacrifice to the Earth. The Magi, when adoring 
the sun, held branches of vervain in their hands. Venus 
victrix wore a crown of myrtle interwoven with vervain, 
and the Germans to this day give a wreath of vervain to 
brides, as if to put them under the protection of this 
goddess. In the northern provinces of Franee, the 
shepherds gather it with ceremonies and words known 
only to themselves. 
