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Violet, White ... Innocence, Candour.
Wallflower ... Fidelity in Misfortune.
Walnut ... Stratagem.
Whortleberry ... Treachery.
Willow,Weeping Mourning.
Wormwood ... Absence.
Yew ... ... Sorrow.
Valerian, Greek Rupture.
Venus’ Lookingglass
.................. Flattery.
Veronica ... Fidelity.
Vervain ... Enchantment.
Vine ... ... Intoxication.
Violet ... ... Modesty.
In the chapter on Magic Plants will be found a list of plants
used by maidens and their lovers for the purposes of divination;
and in Part IL , under the respedfive headings of the plants thus
alluded to, will be found described the several modes of divination.
This pradtice of love divination, it will be seen, is not altogether
unconnected with the symbolical meaning or language of flowers,
and therefore it is here again adverted to.
In many countries it is customary to pluck off the petals of the
Marigold, or some other flower of a similar nature, while certain
w o j s are repeated, for the purpose of divining the characiter of an
individual. Gothe, in his tragedy of ‘ Faust,’ has touched upon
this rustic superstition, and makes Margaret pluck off the leaves of
a flower, at the same time alternately repeating the words—“ He
loves me,”—“ He loves me not.” On coming to the last leaf, she
joyously exclaims—“ He love m e !”—and Faust says: “ Let this
flower pronounce the decree of heaven! ”
“ And with scarlet Poppies around, like a bower,
The naaiden found her mystic flower.
‘ Now, gentle flower, I pray thee tell
I f my lover loves me, and loves me w e ll;
So may the fall of the morning dew
Keep the sun from fading thy tender blue.
Now must I number the leaves for my lot__
He loves me not—loves me— he loves me not—
He loves me—ah ! yes, thou last leaf, yes—
I ’ll pluck thee not for that last sweet guess!
He loves me I ‘ Yes,’ a dear voice sighed,
And her lover stands by Margaret’s side.”— Zandon.
In some pkces, the following mode of floral divination is
rosorted to. T Je lover, male or female, who wishes to ascertain
toe chamber of the beloved one, draws by lot one of the following
flowers, toe symbolical meaning attached to which will give the
information desired :—
1.— Ranunculus ...
••• Enterprising.
2.— Wild Pink ...
... Silly.
3 —Auricula............
... Base.
4 — Blue Cornflower
... Loquacious.
5 .—Wild Orach ...
Lazy,
6.— Daisy ............
7-—Tulip ............
8.—Jonqui l ............
9.— Orange-flower
10.— Rose
1 1 .— Amaranth
12 .— Stock •••
... Gentle.
... Ostentatious.
... Obstinate.
... Hasty.
... Submissive.
... Arbitrary.
... Avaricious.
1 3 .— Spanish
14 .— Asphodel
15 — Tricolour
16.—Tuberose...
1 7 .—Jasmine ...
18 .— Heart’s Ease
19 .—L il y ............
20.— Fritillary
2 1 .— Snapdragon
22.— Carnation
2 3 .— Marigold
2 4 .— Everlasting Flower
Passionate.
Languishing.
Selfish.
Ambitious.
Cheerful.
Delicate.
Sincere.
Coquettish.
Presumptuous
Capricious.
Jealous.
Constant.
C H A P T E R X V I.
S u n e r a f U r e e /
H E association of certain trees and plants with
death and its gloomy surroundings dates from
a period remote and shadowy in its antiquity.
Allusions to it are found in the most ancient
writings and records, and through one of these
(the Sanscrit Mahdbhdrata) we learn that Pitá
Mahá, the great Creator, after having created the
_______ world, reposed under the tree Salmali, the leaves
of which the winds cannot stir. One of the Sanscrit names applied
to this tree is Kantakadruma, Tree of Thorns; and on account of the
great size and strength of its spines, it is stated to have been
placed as a tree of punishment in the infernal regions, and to
have been known as the Tree of Yama (the Hindu god of death).
Yama is also spoken of as the dispenser of the ambrosia of immortality,
which flows from the fruit of the celestial tree in Paradise
[Ficus Indica), and which is known in India as the tree dear to Yama.
As king of the spirits of the departed, Yama dwells near the tree.
Hel, the Scandinavian goddess of death, has her abode among the
roots of Yggdrasill, by the side of one of the fountains. Mimir, who,
according to Scandinavian mythology, gives his name to the fountain
of life, is also a king of the dead. The ancients entertained the
belief that, on the road traversed by the souls of toe departed,
there grew a certain tree, the fruit of which was the symbol of
eternal life. In the Elysian Fields, where dwelt the spirits of the
virtuous in the gloomy regions reigned over by Pluto, whole plains
were covered with Asphodel, flowers which were placed by the
Greeks and Romans on the graves of the departed as symbolic of
the future life. In France, at the beginning of the Christian era,
the faithful, with some mystical idea, were wont to scatter on the
bottom of coffins, beneath the corpses, seeds of various plants—
probably to typify life from the dead.
The belief in a future existence doubtless led to the custom
of planting trees on tombs, especially the Cypress, which was
regarded as typical both of life and death. The tree growing over
the grave, one can easily imagine, was looked upon by the ancient
races as an emblem of the soul of the departed become immortal.
Evelyn remarks, on this point, that trees and perennial plants
are the most natural and instrudfive hieroglyphics of our expedted
resurrection and immortality, and that they conduce to the medi