FLORAL POESY. 
VIOLET. 
(Modesty. ) 
‘¢The violet is for modesty.” —Burns. 
TIOLETS, considered by some as typical of modesty, 
by others are deemed emblematic of faithfulness; 
and the latter have the support of one of Shakspeare’s 
contemporary poets : 
‘¢ Violet is for faithfulness, 
Which in me shall abide ; 
Hoping likewise that from your heart 
You will not let it slide.” 
‘¢The violet was as proud a device of the Ionic 
Athenians,” says a well-known author, ‘‘as the rose of 
England and the lily of France. In all seasons it was to 
be seen exposed for sale in the market-place at Athens, 
the citizens being successful in rearing it in their gar- 
dens even when the ground was covered with snow.” 
The Greeks called this flower ‘‘ Ion,” and it was said 
that Jupiter caused the first violet to spring up in the 
grass, when the unhappy lo, metamorphosed into a 
heifer, bent her lips to eat. 
Perdita, when wishing for flowers to give her guests, 
in the ‘‘ Winter’s Tale,” thus speaks of the beauty and 
perfume of violets : 
‘¢ Violets dim, 
But sweeter than the lids of Juno’s eyes, 
Or Cytherea’s breath.” 
The frequent allusions made to “ the nodding violet” 
by our great dramatist cause it to be regarded as his 




