"I deny not that they possess thy brilliancy,
But thy fragrance they deplore.
May I hope for the boon of thy lustre near me
Through the journey of life,
To teach me to be happy,
To cultivate my admiration of the beautiful,
To bid me seek the joys of home,
And teach me the greatness of my Maker!"
Oronza.—A flower unknown to your planet. It is white, the centre studded with little spots in relief, so closely resembling turquoise and pearls that unless touched they might be mistaken for real stones placed on the flower.
"At sight of thee, malignity flies away and the spirits of peace and goodness surround me, encouraging me to all great and noble deeds, making me forget to look back on my folly, and bidding me gaze forward into the future and the realms of hope.
"You exalt me; you purify me; say you will part from me no more."
Mosca.—The moss rose.
…."Come to me,
Thy virtues are more brilliant than precious stones;
Thy breath exhales intoxicating perfume;
Thy beauty is a continual feast.
Tell me thy heart shall be my haven,
To my bosom I will press thee,
And thy leaves shall embrace me with their fragrant affection."
Each kind of rose has its separate language. Thus, Javellina, the single-leaf hedge-rose, is associated with lines indicative of "the sweet purity of youth." Angellina, the white rose, is associated with lines indicative of "gentle endurance and pure love;" and Orvee, the yellow rose, with lines indicative of "affection combined with jealousy."
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Some flowers have qualified, some disagreeable meanings attached to them.
No man, however nearly allied to a lady, or however great his cause for displeasure may be, is allowed to say to her anything unpleasant except through the medium of flowers.