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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
127
The
profuseness
with
which
flowers
were
used
in
Rome
during
triumphal
processions
has
long
ago
become
proverbial,
in
allusion
to
which
Macaulay
says:--
"On
they
ride
to
the
Forum,
While
laurel
boughs,
and
flowers,
From
house-tops
and
from
windows,
Fell
on
their
crests
in
showers."
Flowers,
in
fact,
were
in
demand
on
every
conceivable
occasion,
a
custom
which
was
frequently
productive
of
costly
extravagance.
Then
there
was
their
festival
of
the
Floralia,
in
honour
of
the
reappearance
of
spring-time,
with
its
hosts
of
bright
blossoms,
a
survival
of
which
has
long
been
kept
up
in
this
country
on
May
Day,
when
garlands
and
carols
form
the
chief
feature
of
the
rustic
merry-making.
Another
grand
ceremonial
occasion,
when
flowers
were
specially
in
request,
was
the
Fontinalia,
an
important
day
in
Rome,
for
the
wells
and
fountains
were
crowned
with
flowers:--
"Fontinalia
festus
erat
dies
Romae,
quo
in
fontes
coronas
projiciebant,
puteosque
coronabant,
ut
a
quibus
pellucidos
liquores
at
restinguendam
sitim
acciperent,
iisdem
gratiam
referre
hoc
situ
viderentur."
A
pretty
survival
of
this
festival
has
long
been
observed
in
the
well-dressing
of
Tissington
on
Ascension
Day,
when
the
wells
are
most
beautifully
decorated
with
leaves
and
flowers,
arranged
in
fanciful
devices,
interwoven
into
certain
symbols
and
texts.
This
floral
rite
is
thus
described
in
"The
Fleece":--
"With
light
fantastic
toe,
the
nymphs
Thither
assembled,
thither
every
swain;
And
o'er
the
dimpled
stream
a
thousand
flowers,
Pale
lilies,
roses,
violets
and
pinks,
Mix'd
with
the
greens
of
bouret,
mint,
and
thyme,
And
trefoil,
sprinkled
with
their
sportive
arms,
Such
custom
holds
along
th'
irriguous
vales,
From
Wreken's
brow
to
rocky
Dolvoryn,
Sabrina's
early
haunt."
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