Here's an example perhaps worthy of consideration, although if there is something like symbolism present it's possibly euphemism. How overt it might be is debatable and of its own time no doubt which would be early 19th century.

The Flowers of Maiden Lane
Printed and sold by J. Pitts 14, Great St Andrew street 7 dials

Bonnie lassie, will ye go? will ye go? will ye go?
Bonnie lassie? to the pinks of Maiden Lane
The sun does in the heaven lour
Imbibing from the earth the shower
That has fallen in the bower
Among the pinks of Maiden Lane!
         Bonnie lassie &c

The cloud that o'er the earth doth rise,
No longer o'er each flower flies
The brightest hue of nature lies
On the pinks of Maiden Lane.
         Bonnie lassie &c

The merry birds do now upspring
And in the waters wet the wing
At break of day they gaily sing
Among the pinks of Maiden Lane
         Bonnie lassie &c.

The old wife Joan the bell doth pull
To tell the drowsy maiden cull
Flowers besides a nosegay full
among the pinks of Maiden Lane
         Bonnie lassie &c.

The ruddy maiden now is gone,
To walk with joy upon the lawn
Flowers to cull, but ah, pluck the thorn,
Among the pinks of Maiden Lane
Bonnie lassie &c. do not go, do not go
To cull the pinks in Maiden Lane.

'Maiden Lane' 'pluck the thorn' hmmm!