210 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



ej'es formed two streams, which ran from his chamber into the garden. Where they 

 sank into the ground there sprang up the trees, the weeping willow and the frankin- 

 cense tree. The first weeps and mourns, the second is incessantly shedding big 

 tears in remembrance of David's repentance." 



Among British poets the willow of any species is considered to be the emblem of 

 despairing love, and to ' wear the willow ' is significant of sorrow and forsaken 

 loneliness. 



" In love the sad forsaken wight 

 The willow garland weareth." 



Desdemona's song suggests this idea: — 



" The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree. 

 Sing, all a green willow ! 

 Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee. 



Sing, willow ! willow ! willow ! 

 The fresh streams ran by her, and murmured her moans, 

 The salt tears ran from her, and softened the stones. 



Sing, willow ! willow ! willow ! 

 Sing all a green willow must be my garland," 



Herrick says : — 



*' A willow garland thou didst send. 

 Perfumed, last day to me, 

 Which did but only this portend, 



I was forsook by thee. 

 Since so it is, I'll tell thee what. 



To-morrow thou shalt see 

 Me wear the willow, after that 

 To die upoii the tree." 



The death of poor Ophelia, as described by the Queen in " Hamlet," refers to the 

 willow : — 



" There is a willow grows ascaunt the brook. 

 That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream, 

 Therevpith fantastic garlands did she make 

 Of crow flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples. 

 That liberal shepherds give a grosser name. 



There on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds 

 Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke, 

 When down her weedy trophies and herself 

 Fell in the weeping brook," 



The willow is the badge of the Highland clan Camming, 



SPECIES v.— S ALIX ALBA. " Lim,:' Koch. 



Plates MCCCIX, MCCCX. MCCCXI. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XI. Tab. DCVIII, Fig. 1263. 

 Billot, Fl, Gall, et Germ, Exsicc. 'No. 847, 



Twigs erect, not brealving oiF readily at their origin. Leaves 

 narrowly elliptical, nearly equally attenuated at each end, finely 



