Myrtles offered up to thee."
To the same goddess was dedicated the rose, and its world-wide
reputation as "the flower of love," in which character it has been extolled
by poets in ancient and modern times, needs no more than reference
here.
The olive indicates peace, and as an emblem was given to Judith
when she restored peace to the Israelites by the death of Holofernes.[3]
Shakespeare, in "Twelfth Night" (Act i. sc. 5), makes Viola say:--"I bring
no overture of war, no taxation of homage; I hold the olive in my hand;
my words are as full of peace as of matter." Similarly, the palm, which, as
the symbol of victory, was carried before the conqueror in triumphal
processions, is generally regarded as denoting victory. Thus, palm-
branches were scattered in the path of Christ upon His public entry into
Jerusalem; and, at the present day, a palm-branch is embroidered on the
lappet of the gown of a French professor, to indicate that a University
degree has been attained.[4]
Some flowers have become emblematical from their curious
characteristics. Thus, the balsam is held to be expressive of impatience,
because its seed-pods when ripe curl up at the slightest touch, and dart
forth their seeds, with great violence; hence one of its popular names,
"touch-me-not." The wild anemone has been considered indicative of
brevity, because its fragile blossom is so quickly scattered to the wind
and lost:--
"The winds forbid the flowers to flourish long,
Which owe to winds their name in Grecian song."
The poppy, from its somniferous effects, has been made symbolic of
sleep and oblivion; hence Virgil calls it the Lethean poppy, whilst our
old pastoral poet, William Browne, speaks of it as "sleep-bringing
poppy." The heliotrope denotes devoted attachment, from its having
been supposed to turn continually towards the sun; hence its name,
signifying the sun and to turn. The classic heliotrope must not be
confounded with the well-known Peruvian heliotrope or "cherry-pie," a
plant with small lilac-blue blossoms of a delicious fragrance. It would
seem that many of the flowers which had the reputation of opening and
shutting at the sun's bidding were known as heliotropes, or sunflowers,
or turnesol. Shakespeare alludes to the,
"Marigold, that goes to bed with the sun,
And with him rises weeping."
And Moore, describing its faithful constancy, says:--