pFant "bore, "bcgcT^/, anol 'bqric/-. 43 1 



father exclaimed : "Alas! I have lost the most precious diamond 

 of my crown." At the approach of the new moon, the shepherd 

 took up his flute to play a tune; but it was mute, for the fair 

 princess was no longer there to listen to its tuneful notes. Mean- 

 while, on the third night, there sprang from the stem of the old 

 Maple on the hill a new shoot, on the spot where the poor princess 

 had met her cruel death. The shepherd, happening to pass by, saw 

 this fresh shoot from the Maple, and thought he would make from 

 it a new flute. So he cut the Maple-shoot, and from it fashioned 

 a flute ; but the moment he placed it to his lips, the flute sang, 

 " Play, play, dearest. Once I was a king's daughter ; then I was 

 a Maple-shoot ; now I am a flute made from the Maple-shoot." 

 The shepherd rushed off with the flute to the king, who put it to 

 his lips, when instantly it sang, " Play, play, my father. Once, &c." 

 Then the two wicked sisters approached, and each in turn put the 

 flute to her lips — only, however, to hear it hiss, " Play, play, 

 murderess. Once, &c." Then the king, becoming aware of the 

 sisters' wickedness, cursed them, and drove them with bitter 



reproaches from his palace into the wide world. The Maple has 



been made the emblem of reserve, because its flowers are late in 



opening, and slow to fall. A curious belief exists in some parts 



of England, that the Maple can confer longevity on children, if 

 they are passed through its branches. In West Grinstead Park, 

 Sussex, was an old Maple much used for this purpose, and, upon a 

 rumour reaching the parish, that the ancient tree was to be felled, 



many petitions were made that it might be spared. Pliny says 



that Maple-root, pounded, is a remedy for pains in the liver, and 

 Gerarde states that, steeped in wine, it is useful in stopping pain 

 in the side. He quotes a verse from Sammonicus, which he thus 

 translates : — 



" Thy harmless side if sharp disease invade, 



In hissing water quench a heated stone : 

 This drink. Or Maple-root in powder made. 



Take off in wine, a present med'cine known. " 



MARGUERITE.— The Daisy {BeUisperennis), which Chaucer 

 called " douce Margarette," derives its French name of Mar- 

 guerite from its supposed resemblance to a pearl. In Germany, 

 indeed, it is known as the Meadow-pearl, and Chaucer, in describ- 

 ing the flower, says: — 



" And of a perle fine oriental!, 

 Her white croune was imaked all." 



The Greek word for pearl, Margarites, became in Latin Margarita, 

 remained the same in Italian, and in French was spelt Marguerite; 

 the same word in each language indicating both the pearl and the 

 flower we call Daisy. This flower was formerly employed in the 

 treatment of certain female complaints, and on that account, 

 perhaps, was dedicated by the Monks to St. Margaret of Cortona. 

 Chaucer, in error, referred the name Margaret, as bestowed on the 



