BASIL. 51 



" And she forgot the stars, the moon, and sun. 

 And she forgot the blue above the trees, 

 And she forgot the dells where waters run. 

 And she forgot the chilly autumn breeze : 

 She had no knowledge when the day was done. 

 And the new morn she saw not, — but in peace 

 Hung over her sweet basil evermore. 

 And moisten'd it with tears unto the core. 



'' And so she ever fed it with thin tears. 



Whence thick and green and beautiful it grew. 



So that it smelt more balmy than its peers 



Of basil-tufts in Florence ; for it drew 



Nurture besides, and life from human fears, 



From the fast mouldering head there shut from view ; 



So that the jewel safely casketed 



Came forth, and in perfumed leafits spread." 



This young poet now lies in an Italian grave, which is 

 said to be adorned with a variety of flowers. Among 

 them Sweet Basil should not be forgotten. 



And here we are naturally led to the Bay-tree. 



BAY. 



LAURUS NOBILIS. 



LAURINE^. ENNEANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Greek, Daphne. — Italian, alloro ; lauro. — French, laurier. 



This Bay, by way of distinction, called the Sweet Bay, 

 well justifies the epithet: the exquisite fragrance of the 

 Bay-leaf, especially when crushed, is known to every one ; 

 even in our climate, where it ranks but as a shrub, and 

 doubtless, in its native soil, where it grows to a height 

 of twenty or thirty feet, the perfume would be still finer. 



How many grand and delightful images does the very 

 name of this tree awaken in our minds! The warrior 



