30 
INTRODUCTION. 
his daughter collected for him; and a few 
days before his death, 'he sent her two dead 
lilies, to express, at the same time, the purity 
of his soul and the fate which awaited him. 
The poet Saadi, author of “ Gulistan, or 
the Rose Garden,” engaged to break his 
chains by presenting a rose to the man who 
owned him as his slave. He said, “ Do good 
unto thy servant whilst thou hast it in thy 
power, for the season of power is often as brief 
as the existence of this beautiful flower.” 
The sentiments and emblems found in this 
volume are chiefly derived from the ancients, 
and especially from eastern nations. In pur¬ 
suing the research, it has been found that time, 
instead of rendering their sentiments less ap¬ 
propriate, has confirmed their fitness, and 
continually added new charms to thelanguage. 
Little study is necessary in the science here 
taught; nature has been before us. It will 
suffice that two or three rules be given, which 
the reader will do well first to learn, and then 
by reference to the work, which is systemati¬ 
cally arranged for the purpose, he will be en¬ 
abled to converse in the language of flowers. 
