THE IVY. 



constituting a truly waterproof protection, adding to the warmth and ensuring 

 the perfect dryness of the protected structure. Robert Nicoll must have had this 

 in mind when he wrote : 



" The ivy clings about the ruin'd walls 



Of cell, and chapel, and refectory ; 

 An oak-tree's shadow, cloud-like, ever falls 



Upon the spot where stood the altar high ; &f 



The chambers all are open to the sky ; %[ * 



A goat is feeding where the praying knelt ; 



The daisy rears its ever open eye 

 Where the proud Abbot in his grandeur dwelt, 

 These signs of Time and Change the hardest heart might melt." 



Enough has been said about the employment of the plant in ancient times, in 

 religious ceremonies, and the customs of conviviality. It may yet be added, 

 however, that although amongst the Greeks the use of the ivy was somewhat 

 restricted, the Romans adopted it as a universal emblem, for it was woven into 

 garlands on every occasion when such were used. As a rule it was associated 

 \ with occasions of rejoicing, and but rarely employed in funereal rites or for dressing 

 the couch or the grave of the dead. In later times it acquired a distinguishing 

 place in the celebrations of Christianity ; and in this day of ceremonial revivals in 

 the Church is largely used in the construction of wreaths for the altar, although, 

 according to tradition, its place is always without and not within the sacred edifice 

 $ or the hall of festivity. Stow tells us that, "against the feast of Christmas 

 every man's house, as also the parish churches, were decked with holme, ivy, and 

 * bayes, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be given. The conduits 

 ]j f and standards in the streets were likewise garnished." An old Christmas 

 carol on the " Holly and the Ivy" definitely declares the place for each of 

 A these plants : 



'* Nay, my nay, hyt shal not be I wys, 

 Let holy hafe the mastry, as the maner ys ; 

 Holy stond in the hall, fayre to behold, 

 Ivy stond without the dore, she ys ful sore acold. 

 Nay, my nay. 



Holy, and hys mery men, they dawnsyn and they syng, 

 Ivy and hur maydyns, they wepyn and they wryng. 

 Nay, my nay." 1 



1 " Harleian Manuscripts," 5336. 



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