lumny, since it leaves so permanent a stain on

of the envy and hatred of potent calumniators, must lay his finger upon his mouth, and keep his hand out of the ink-pot."

CANDOUR AND INNOCENCE.

SWEET WHITE VIOLET.- Viola odorata..

"The daughters of the flood have search'd the mead For violets pale."

Virgil.

This flower, that delights us so much by its innocent perfume and spotless purity, is also made to represent a third virtue. A sonnet of the sixteenth century says,

"Violet is for faithfulnesse,

Which in me shall abide;

Hoping likewise that from your heart

You will not let it slide."

"The bond that knits together and supports all compacts, is truth and faithfulness."-Lowth.

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CAPRICIOUS BEAUTY.

MUSK ROSE.-Rosa moschata.

Their passions move in lower spheres,
Where'er caprice or folly steers."

Swift.

This Barbary rose seems to have thrown off its vegetable fragrance in favour of animal perfume;

"And each inconstant breeze that blows,
Steals essence from the musky rose."

CELIBACY.

ROSEBAY WILLOW HERB, or FRENCH WILLOW.
Epilobium Angustifolium.

The French call this plant Laurier Saint Antoine, after St. Antony, the first founder of monastic institutions; and we have therefore made his favourite flower the emblem of celibacy.

Reason seems to tell us, that the most devout and strict celibacy cannot be so acceptable to the Almighty as the faithful observance of the duties of husband and wife, parent, child, and neighbour.

CHARITY.

TURNIP.-Rapa.

Turnips hide their swelling heads below."

Gay.

Peacham pictures the month of November with bunches of parsnips and turnips in his right hand; and Guillim says, turnips were used in armorial bearings to represent a person of good disposition, who relieved the poor. Hence we have made it the emblem of charity:

"Oh, charity! our helpless nature's pride,

Thou friend to him who knows no friend beside :

Thine are the ample views, that unconfin'd
Stretch to the utmost walks of human kind;
Thine is the spirit that with widest plan
Brother to brother binds, and man to man!"`

Bowles.

CHASTE LOVE.

ACACIA. Robinia Pseudacacia.

Light-leaved acacias, and the shady plain,

And spreading cedar, grace the woodland reign."

The beautiful blossoms of this North American tree are made the emblem of chaste love, because the young Americans declare their first passion by presenting a branch of these papilionacious flowers to those whom Cupid directs their choice.

"Ev'n here, where frozen chastity retires,
Love finds an altar for forbidden fires."

Pope.

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CHASTITY.

ORANGE FLOWERS.-Citrus Aurantium.

The punic granate op'd its rose-like flow'rs,
The orange breath'd its aromatic pow'rs."

Swift.

These fragrant blossoms are made the emblem of chastity from the purity of their white petals. One of the principal beauties of the orange tree consists in its bearing fruit and flowers at the same time, as is beautifully noticed by Pope :

"Here orange trees with blossoms and pendants shine, And vernal honours to their autumn join ;

Exceed their promise in the ripen'd store,
Yet in the rising blossom promise more."

Chastity is also represented by a branch of the shrub called Chaste tree. Vitex, or Agnus Castus.

Diana, goddess of chastity,

And, for because that she a maiden is,