58 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



But unless Petrarch's wliole works are inserted, it will * 

 be a vain attempt to give all the passages in which he thus 

 celebrates both his mistress and the tree. One or two 

 more only shall be mentioned : the canzone beginning 



" Standomi un giorno solo a la fenestra ;" 



Canzone 42. 



and 



" Quando il soave mio lido conforto." 



Canzone 47. 



It was but just that he should be crowned with this be- 

 loved Laurel, as it is well known that he was, publicly, at 

 P,ome ; having been offered the same honourable distinction 

 at Paris also. 



"The Laurel seems more appropriated to Petrarch, 

 (says Mr. Hunt,) than to any other poet. He delighted 

 to sit under its leaves ; he loved it both for itself and for 

 the resemblance of its name to that of his mistress ; he 

 wrote of it continually ; and he was called from out of its 

 shade to be crowned with it in the Capitol. It is a 

 remarkable instance of the fondness with which he che- 

 rished the united ideas of Laura and the Laurel, that he 

 confesses it to have been one of the greatest delights he 

 experienced in receiving the crown upon his head *." 



Chaucer bestows the Laurel upon the Knights of the 

 Round Table, the Paladines of Charlemagne, and some 

 of the Knights of the Garter, 



" That in their timis did right worthily. 



* * # * * 

 For one lefe givin of that noble tre 

 To any wight that hath done worthily 

 (An it be done so as it ought to be) 



Is more honour than any thing erthly, 

 Witness of Rome ; that foundir was truly 

 Of all knighthode and dedis marvelous. 

 Record I take of Titus Livius." 



* Indicator, No, XL. vol. i. page 316. 



