E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Flame.
A sweetheart. “An old flame,” a quondam sweetheart. In Latin, flamma is used for love, and so is feu in French. Ardeo, to burn like fire, is also applied to the passion of love; hence, Virgil (Ecl. ii. 4), “Corydon ardebat Alexin;” and Horace (Epoch xiii. 9), “Arsit Anacreon Bathyllo.”
