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The great poetic nation, Greece, gave a 
human interest to these fair children of the 
earth, and linked a legend of man’s love, or 
woe, or triumph, to every blossom, 
It is also said that the Greeks understood 
the art of sending intelligence by a bouquet ; 
and it is evident, from the old Dream-book 
of Artemidorus, that every flower of which 
their garlands were composed had a parti- 
cular signification. But we have no certain 
knowledge of this ancient flower-language, 
Amongst the chivalrous nations of the 
north, flowers obtained a grander and bolder 
significance. Nations assumed for their 
badges, on many a hardly-contested field, the 
tender darlings of the spring and summer ; 
and thus they became entwined with the 
records of the world, and linked with the 
memory of heroes. 
The lowly Broom, worn on the knightly 
helmet of Geoffrey of Anjou, gave name to 
the race of kings he sent to our island throne, 
—the great Plantagenets. 
The Red and White Roses were assumed 

