Marigold

Marigold 

MARIGOLD- Cruelty 

by W.G.S.

The Marigold was believed at one time to be capable of imparting a yellow colour to the hair, but as this hue is becoming less appreciated than formerly, it may not be looked upon as a notable "vertue" by all our readers.

 Shakspeare more than once refers to these plants, and in Cymbeline we read: 

And winking Marygolds begin 
To ope' their golden eyes.

                          W. Shakespeare

 Certainly the Marybods we know- do not "wink," but we cannot tell what Golden Maries did in the times of the ancient Britons.

 He sings elsewhere.

Her eyes like Marigolds hath sheathed their light, 

And canopied in darkness sweetly lay,

Till they might open to adorn the day.  

This has direct reference to the sleep of plants for the golden rays of the Marigold flower begin gently to close in the afternoon, only to be again awakened by the rising of the sun and the carolling of the birds. 

The hues of the Sweet William and Marigold are lovely in the former, especially, they vary to such a degree and are exquisitely pure and prismatic in their shades as to altogether imitation. Sometimes the tint is pure white. touched with lilac. others almost black, so intense: is the ruby red, then again the flowers are marked and embellished one shade over another with the matchless and consummate beauty. The Marigold is usually blaze of golden fire, sometimes with a heart of amethyst, at other with a dise of burning yellow, or with petals touched with purple. Until we can steal our colours from the spectrum. no one will faith fully paint flowers or the faces of our little ones.

Who can paint 

Like nature? Can imagination boast 

Amid its gay creation hues like hers? 

Or can it mix them with that matchless skill 

And lose them in each other, as appears 

In every bud that blows? 

References:

1.THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON ALMANACK FOR 1868 

2. Fortune Telling by Madame Xanto