BAY. 59 



Chaucer evidently intends the genuine Laurel, not the 



usurper of the title, since he speaks of its sweet scent : 



" And at the last I gan full well aspy 

 Where she sate in a fresh grene laury tre. 

 On the furthir side evin right by me. 

 That gave so passing a delicious smell. 

 According to the eglantere full well." 



The Floure and the Leafe. 



The following lines, addressed by Tasso to a Laurel in 



his lady's hair, are, with their translation, taken from the 



Literary Pocket-Book for the year 1821 : 



" O pianta trionfale, 



Onor d' imperatori, 



Hor de' nomi de' regi anco t' onori 



Cosi di pregio in pregio, 



Di vittoria in vittoria, 



Vai trapassando, e d' una in altra gloria ; 



Arbore gentile, e regio. 



Per che nulla ti manchi, orna le chiome 



Di chi d' Amor trionfa, e 1' alme ha dome." 



O glad triumphal bough, 



That now adornest conquering chiefs, and now 



Clippest the brows of over-ruling kings : 



From victory to victory 



Thus climbing on, through all the heights of story, 



From worth to worth, and glory unto glory ; 



To finish aU, O gentle and royal tree. 



Thou reignest now upon that flourishing head. 



At whose triumphant eyes Love and our souls are led. 



BELVEDEEE. 



CHENOPODIUM SCOPARIA. 



ATRIPLICE^. PENTANDKIA DIGYNIA. 



Called also Summer Cypress. — French, la belvedere ; bellevedere ; 

 belle a voir. — Italian, il belvedere : all which foreign names refer to 

 its beautiful appearance. 



This is an extremely handsome plant, growing very 



