260 FLOllA DOMESTIC A. 



endure the open air all the year round ; and there are 

 Myrtle hedges which have grown to a considerable height, 

 and are very strong and healthy. Mr. Keppel Craven 

 describes the hedges in Naples to be as commonly com- 

 posed of Myrtles and orange trees, as ours are of thorn 

 and privet. Their fragrance, when in blossom, must sur- 

 pass even our own hawthorn. 



The Myrtle was formerly used in medicine : it was a 

 great favourite with the ancients ; and either on account 

 of its beauty, or because it thrives best in the neighbour- 

 hood of the sea, it was held sacred to Venus — as the olive 

 to Minerva, the poplar to Hercules, the ivy and the vine 

 to Bacchus, the hyacinth and the bay to Apollo, &c. 



Myrtle-berries were used in cookery ; and both those 

 and the branches put into wine. Evelyn speaks of a de- 

 coction of Myrtle-berries for dying the hair black. 



Myrtle was the symbol of authority for magistrates at 

 Athens ; bloodless victors were crowned with Myrtle ; and 

 hence the swords of Harmodius and Aristogiton were 

 wreathed with Myrtle, when they set forth to free their 

 country from hereditary monarchy. Thus when the young 

 hero is contemning the indolent and effeminate luxury 

 around him, he breaks out in enthusiastic admiration of 

 the Greeks : 



" It was not so, land of the generous thought. 

 And daring deed ! thy godlike sages taught ; 

 It was not thus, in bowers of wanton ease. 

 Thy Freedom nursed her sacred energies ; 

 Oh ! not beneath the enfeebling, withering glow 

 Of such dull luxury did those myrtles grow 

 With which she wreathed her sword when she would dare 

 Immortal deeds ; but in the bracing air 

 Of toil, of temperance, of that high, rare, 

 Etherial virtue, which alone can breathe 

 Life, health, and lustre into Freedom's wreath." 



Moore's Lali.a Rookh. 



