hey sent to the senate
from the victorious general: The spears, lances and _fasces_, nay, tents
and ships, &c. were all dress'd up with laurels; and in triumph every
common-soldier carryed a sprig in their hand, as we may see in the
ancient and best _bass-relievo_ of the ancients, as of virtue to purge
them from blood and slaughter. And now after all this, might one
conjecture by a mere inspection of those several sculps, statues, and
medals yet exstant, representing the heads of emperors, poets, &c. the
wreaths and coronets seem to be compos'd of a more flexible and
compliant species than the common bay, and more applicable to the brows,
except where the ends and stalks of the tender branch were tyed together
with a _lemnisc_ or ribbon. And there be yet{313:1} who contend for the
Alexandrian laurel, and the _tinus_ as more ductile; but without any
good evidence. Pliny I find says nothing of this question, naming only
the Cyprian and Delphic; besides, the figure, colour of the rind and
leaf, crackling in the fire, which it impugns, (as 'tis said it does
lightning) gives plainly the honour of it to the common bay. We say
nothing of its sacred use in the Gentile lustration, purgation, and
several other attributes. To conclude;

From laurel{313:3} chew'd the Pythian priestess rose,
Events of future actions to disclose.
Laurel triumphant generals did wear,
And laurel heralds in their hands did bear.
Poets ambitious of unfading praise,
Phoebus, the Muses all are crown'd with bays.
And vertue to her sons the prize does name
Symbol of glory, and immortal fame.{313:2}

I have now finish'd my planting: A word or two concerning their
preservation, and the cure of their infirmities, expect in the following
chapter.

FOOTNOTES:

{294:1}

Arbuteae crates, & mystica vannus Iacchi.

_Georg. 1._

{296:1}

............Non ultima belli
Arma puellaris; laqueos haec nectit amantum,
Et venatricis disponit retia formae.

_Couleii_ pl. l. 6.

{297:1}

Quam multa arboribus tribuuntur crimina falsa?

{300:1}

Hic ver perpetuum, atque alienis mensibus aestas.

{301:1}

.....Mala furta hominum densis mucronibus arcens
Securum defendit inexpugnabilis hortum;
Exornatque simul, toto spectabilis anno,
Et numero, & viridi foliorum luce nitentum.

_Couleii Pl. l. 6._

{308:1}

Inseritur lauro cerasus, partuque coacto
T