456 pfant Tsore, Tsegei^Ci/, oioil 'bijcic/'. 



torious, the patricians' Myrtle withered. As a charm to ensure a 

 successful journey, Roman pedestrians were accustomed to procure 



and wear a Myrtle wreath. At Temnos, in Asia Minor, there 



is a statue in Myrtle-wood consecrated by Pelops to Venus, as 

 a thank-ofifering for his marriage with Hippodamia. After the 

 death of Hippolytus, Phaedra, maddened with passionate grief, 

 pricked innumerable small holes in the leaves of a Myrtle with a 

 hair-pin. The geographer Pausanias states that this Myrtle was in 



his time to be seen near the tomb of Phaedra at Trcezen. The 



same writer relates that a Myrtle which had been the hiding place 

 of a hare was selecfled by Diana to mark the site of a new city. 



With the Jews, the Myrtle is a symbol of peace, and is often 



so referred to in the Old Testament, notably by Nehemiah and 

 the prophets Zechariah and Isaiah. A variety, called the Broad- 

 leaved Jew's Myrtle, is held in especial veneration, and is fre- 

 quently used in Hebrew religious ceremonies. Branches of this and 

 other Evergreens are used in the erecflion of their tents at the Feast 

 of Tabernacles. At Aleppo, these tabernacles are made by fastening 

 to the corner of a wooden divan four slender posts as supports to a 

 diaper- work of green Reeds on all sides, leaving only a space in front 

 for the entrance, which on the outside is covered with fresh Myrtle. 

 Jewish maidens were wont to be decked with a bridal wreath of 

 Myrtle; but this wreath was never worn by a widow, or by 

 divorced women. This custom is still retained in Germany, where 



the bride is adorned with a Myrtle wreath. The Oriental nations 



are extremely partial to the Myrtle, and there is a tradition among 

 the Arabs that, when Adam was expelled from Paradise, he 

 brought the Myrtle with him, as being the choicest of fragrant 



flowers. It is a popular belief in Somersetshire, that, in order to 



ensure its taking root, it is necessary when planting a sprig of 

 Myrtle, to spread the skirt of your garment, and to look proud. 

 In the same county, there is a saying that " the flowering Myrtle is 

 the luckiest plant to have in your window, water it every morning, 



and be proud of it." In Greece, there is a superstitious notion 



that no one should pass near an odoriferous Myrtle without gathering 

 a perfumed bunch ; indifference to the attractions of Myrtle being 



considered a sign of impotence and death. In the allegories of 



Azz Eddin, the Rose says that the Myrtle is the prince of odori- 

 ferous plants. Rapin calls the Myrtle " of celestial race," and in 



his poem has the following lines on it : — 



" When once, as Fame reports, the Queen of Love 



In Ida's valley raised a Myrtle grove, 



Young wanton Cupids danced a summer's night 



Round the sweet place by Cynthia's silver light. 



Venus this charming green alone prefers, 



And this of all the verdant kind is hers : 



Hence the bride's brow with Myrtle wreaths is graced, 



When the long-wished-for night is come at last ; 



And Juno (queen of nuptial mysteries) 



Makes all her torches of these fragrant trees. 



