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INTRODUCTION. 23 
at 
The practice of divination by flowers is not 
altogether unconnected with the floral language 
which forms the principal subject of this little 
volume. It is customary in some countries to 
pluck off the leaves of the marigold or any 
flower of the aster kind, while certain words 
are repeated, in order to ascertain the character 
or inclination of an individual. Gothe has 
touched upon this superstition in his tragedy of 
Faust, in which Margaret plucks off the leaves 
of a flower, at the same time alternately re- 
peating the words :—‘ He loves me.”—-“ He 
loves me not.” On coming to the last leaf she 
joyfully exclaims—“ He loves me !”—and Faust 
says: “ Let this flower pronounce the decree of 
Heaven!” 
This circumstance has been chosen by Retsch 
for the subject of one of his exquisite sketches 
for the illustration of Faust, to an engraving of 
which Miss Landon wrote a little poem entitled 
“The Decision of the Flower,” containing these 
lines :— 
And, with scarlet poppies around, like a bower, 
The maiden found her mystic flower. 
““ Now, gentle flower, I pray thee tell 
If my lover loves me, and loves me well; 
