Flower Lore and Legend - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ... to his sister that he turned his burning gaze full upon the intruder. Rodanthe endeavored to leave the pedestal to escape his scorching rays, but her feet were held fast and her body and limbs turned into branches covered with leaves. In place of the Queen of Corinth there stood a rose tree, full of beautiful yellow flowers. "Tho' changed into a flower, her pomp remains, And lovely still, and still a queen she reigns." The throng who were about the temple were turned into thorns to guard her beauty, and the too ardent lovers were transformed into a worm, a drone, and a butterfly. There is a Roumanian tradition of a fair princess, who went to the sea to bathe. The sun was so dazzled by her beauty that he stood still for three days. Of course, that interrupted the progress of night, and so upset things generally that Jupiter changed the princess into a rose tree. Whether this was before, after, or in the time of Joshua does not appear. In the garden was a lily and each aspired to be queen there. The rose supported her title by the poets. The height and dignity of the lily gave her an imperial appearance. Their respective rights were so warmly debated that Flora, the goddess, finally interfered as arbitrator. Cowper gives her decision in these words: "Yours," she said, " the noblest hue, And yours the statelier mien; And till a third surpasses you, Let each be deem'd a queen." Sir John Maundeville, in his wonderful travels, tells of a maiden of Bethlehem who was accused of a crime and condemned to be burned. As the flames were kindled she prayed to the Lord that, as she was not guilty, He would cause her innocence to be known to all men. When the fires reached her they were immediately quenched, and the fagots that were burning became red...