BALM. 45 



cent substitute for foreign tea, which many persons find 

 injurious to them; and many think its aromatic flavour 

 vei^y agreeable. Much of the prejudice against our native 

 tea-plants has arisen from the tea being made of the fresh 

 herbs, and by far too strong. If the Chinese tea were 

 used as lavishly, it would be still more disagreeable to 

 the taste than our native teas. 



On account of its being so great a favourite with the 

 bees, it was one of the herbs directed by the ancients to be 

 rubbed on the hive, to render it agreeable to the swarm : 



" Intorno del bel culto e chiuso carapo 

 Lieta fiorisca I'odorata persa, 

 E I'appio verde, e I'umile serpillo, 

 Che con mille radici attorte e crespe 

 Sen va carpon vestando il terren d'erba, 

 E la melissa ch' odor serapre esala ; 

 La mammola, I'origano, ed il time, 

 Che natura creo per fare il mele." 



Le Api del Rucellai. 



" O'er all the lawny field, lovely, shut in. 

 Let the glad violet smile with its sweet breath ; 

 And parsley green ; and humble creeping-thyme. 

 Which, with a thousand roots, curling and crisp. 

 Goes decking the green earth with drapery; 

 And balm that never ceases uttering sweets ; 

 And hearts-ease, and wild marjoram, and thyme. 

 Which nature made on purpose to make honey." 



" Quand' escon I'api dei rinchiusi alberghi, 

 E tu le vedi poi per I'aere puro 

 Natando in schiera andare verso le stelle. 

 Come una nube che si sparga al vento ; 

 Contempla ben perch' elle cercan sempre 

 Posarsi al fresco sopra un verde elce, 

 Ower presso a un muscoso e chiaro fonte. 

 E pero sparga quivi il buon sapore 

 De la trita melissa, o I'erba vile 

 De la cerinta ; e con un ferro in mano 

 Percuoti il cavo rame, o forte suona 

 II cembal risonante di Cibelle. 



