IQi OBSERVATIONS UPON THE ORANGE TREE. 



leeping dragon. It was one of the labours of Hercules to obtain 

 some of these golden apples : he succeeded, but, as they could not 

 be preserved elsewhere, it is said that they were carried back again 

 by Minerva. 



Lucan is particularly earnest that no one should doubt this story : 



" Here by the wakeful dragon kept of old. 

 Hesperian fruits grew rich with living gold; 

 Long since the fruit was from the branches torn, 

 And now the gardens their lost honours mourn. 

 Such was in ancient times the tale received, 

 Such by our good forefathers was believed : 

 Nor let inquirers the tradition wrong, 

 Or dare to question now the poet's sacred song. 

 Then take it for a truth, the wealthy wood 

 Here under golden boughs low-bending stood : 

 On some large tree his folds the serpent wound, 

 The fair Hesperian virgins watched around, 

 And joined to guard ihe rich forbidden ground. 

 But great Alcides came to end their care, 

 Stript the gay grove, and left the branches bare ; 

 Then back returning, sought the Argive shore, 

 And the bright spoil to proud Eurystheus bore." 



These, too, were the golden apples by means of which Hippomenes 

 won the Arcadian Atalanta ; who halted in the race to pick them up, 

 when he artfully dropped them at three several times, in the hope of 

 her so doing ; he having received them for that purpose from the 

 goddess Venus. 



And probably this may be the golden apple, the bestowal of which 

 first gave origin to the Grecian war. 



The Orange-tree is mentioned both by Cowley and Rapin ; but 

 the poems being originally written in Latin, and the translations very 

 poor, they will not admit of quotation. It has been celebrated by 

 poets ancient and modern , and well has it deserved its fame, not 

 only for its fine fruit, but also for its handsome leaves, exquisite 

 blossoms, and delicious perfume. 



Mr. Moore gives a pleasant picture of the Orange-tree, in his 

 Paradise and the Peri. 



