FLORAL EMBLEMS. 181 



INCORRUPTIBLE. 



Cedar of Lebanon. — Piniis Cednis. 



'' Once were they in their splendour and their pride. 

 As an imperial cedar, on the brow 

 Of the great Lebanon ! It rose, arrayed 

 In its rich pomp of foliage, and of wide 

 Majestic branches, leaving far below 

 All children of the forest. To its shade 

 The waters tribute paid. 



Fostering its beauty. Birds found shelter there. 

 Whose flight is of the loftiest, through the sky ; 

 And the wild mountain-creatures made their lair 

 Beneath ; and nations by its canopy 

 Were shadowed o'er. Supreme it stood, and ne'er 

 Had earth beheld a tree so excellently fair." 



From the Spa)dsh. 



The ancients considered the timber of this 

 tree to be not only incorruptible, but that 

 whatever it inclosed, became imperishable. 

 They therefore deposited their precious manu- 

 scripts in chests made of this tree, which gave 



