Note E251 — 43.

"Pansy," or Paunce, Fr. pensée, thought. According to Dr. Johnson the name is derived from Lat. panacea, but there is no evidence of the plant ever having been so called, or having been regarded as a panacea. It has received more popular names perhaps than any other plant, both in our own and in foreign languages. The following are some of the quaint titles given to it: "Cull me to you," or "Cuddle me to you," "Love and Idle," "Live in Idleness," "Love in Idleness" (originally "Love in idle," i.e. in vain); "Love in idle Pances," "Tittle my fancy," "Kiss me, ere I rise," "Jump up and kiss me," "Kiss me at the garden gate," "Pink of my John," "Herb Trinity," and "Three faces under one hood," from the three colours combined in one flower. It was also called "Hearts-ease," and "Flame flower" (M. Lat. Viola flammea).

Heartsease, a term meaning "a cordial," as in Sir W. Scott's Antiquary, ch. xi., "Buy a dram to be eilding and claise, and a supper and hearts-ease into the bargain," given to certain plants supposed to be cardiac: at present [applied] to the pansy alone, but by Lyte, Bulleyn, and W. Turner, to the Wallflower equally.—Dr. R. A. Prior's Popular Names of British Plants, which see for an account of the origin of the name.