256 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
from the son of Maia the shell of a tortoise, out of 
which he had constructed a lyre, and gave him in 
exchange a Hazel stick, which had the power of im¬ 
parting a love of virtue and of reconciling hearts 
divided by envy and hate. Thus equipped, the two 
sons of Jupiter sought the abodes of mortals. Apollo 
first' sang the eternal wisdom which created the uni¬ 
verse ; he told how the elements were produced, 
how' love uniteq all the parts of nature in one general 
bond, and, lastly, how men ought to appease by 
prayer the wrath of the gods. At his voice animo¬ 
sities were suspended, and revenge was banished 
from every heart. Mercury then touched men with 
the rod which Apollo had given to him. He loosed 
their tongues, and taught them to express their 
thoughts in words. He then explained to them that 
union constitutes strength, and that, without mu¬ 
tually assisting each other, they could not render the 
earth productive. Awakened by his exhortations, 
filial piety and love of country sprang forth to unite 
mankind, and he made commerce the general bond 
of the world. His last thought was the most sub¬ 
lime, for it was devoted to the gods; he taught men 
to resemble them in universal love and beneficence. 
Adorned with two light wings, and entwined with 
