Flora

This frontispiece, and a poem explaining it (“the mind of the front”), provides a vivid image of one of Pulter’s favorite figures, Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring.

John Rea, “The Mind of the Front”

With Flowers crowned here Flora sits as queen,
Near her as maids of honor stands
Painful Ceres, and Pomona’s seen
Begging a blessing at her hands:
To crown her crops and deck her trees again
With flow’rs, the hope of fruit, corn, wine and grain.

The gracious queen soon granteth their desire
And sweetly smiling, casts a ray
From her bright eyes, which like Sol’s cheering fire,
Dries up cold dews and drives away
The frosts, which had long locked up from our eyes
Beauties in beds, which with the son now rise.

Behold each ear with jewels hung doth shine,
And ev’ry sprig flow’rs doth adorn.
The pleased Pomona views the spreading vine,
In hope as high as Ceres’ corn.
Then both agree, of both to bring their best,
To entertain you at the florists’ feast.

Meanwhile, the queen calls for her cabinet,
And all her jewels doth expose,
Shows what they are, and by what artist set,
Then kindly bids you pick and choose;
Come boldly on, and your collection make,
Tis a free gift, pray wear them for her sake.

Flora, seu, De florum cultura, or, A complete florilege, furnished with all requisites belonging to a florist by John Rea, Gent. (London, 1665), frontispiece and accompanying verse. British Museum number 1870,0709.81. Ⓒ Trustees of the British Museum.