330 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



Chaucer, in the Flower and the Leaf, describes a plea- 

 sant arbour formed by Sycamore and Eglantine : 



" And I, that all these plesaunt sightis se. 

 Thought sutldainly I felt so swete an air 

 Of the eglentere, tliat certainly 

 There is no hcrt (I deme) in such despair, 

 Ne yet with thoughtis forward and contrairc, 

 So overlaid, but it should sone have bote 

 If it had onis felt this savour sote." 



Keats alludes more than once to the sweet perfume 

 of the Eglantine, when moist with rain or dew : 



" Its sides I'll plant with dew-sweet eglantine 

 And honeysuckles full of clear bee- wine." 



Endymion, p. 193. 



" rain-scented eglantine 



Gave temperate sweets to that well-wooing sun." 



Endymion, p. 8. 



ROSEMAKY. 



ROSMARINUS. 



DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



The botanical name of this plant is compounded of two Latin words, 

 signifying Sea-dew; and indeed Rosemary thrives best by the sea. — 

 French, romarin ; encensier [incense- wort]. — Italian, rosmarino; ra- 

 merino; ramarino. 



Rosemary is common in the South of Europe, Barbary, 

 and the Levant, and in the open ground will bear the win- 

 ter in this climate ; but, when in pots, it is necessary to 

 afford it the protection of a roof during the winter season. 



It has been held in high esteem as a " comforter of the 

 brain," and a strengthener of the memory ; and on the 

 latter account is an emblem of fidelity in lovers. Formerly 

 it was worn at weddings, and at funerals also : in some 

 parts of England, Mr. Martyn says, " that in his time it 



