

USES OF THE IVY. 



spiritual and immortal life. In the more enriched examples of Norman archi- 

 tecture, the plant appears occasionally, and a very good example of its suitability 

 to enrich a capital may be seen in Oxford Cathedral. The commonest expression 

 of the ivy is essentially architectural. We see it wreathing the grey bole of a 

 mighty tree, and it seems proper to transfer this proposal of nature to the realms 

 of art, and carry the ivy-wreath around the columns in the nave, the plinth of the 

 font, and the screen of the chantry. The conventional ivy is usually a burlesque , 

 not a finely-wrought fancy founded on fact like the honeysuckle of the Greek, 

 or the rose or acorn of the Gothic. 



Whole ages have fled and their works decayed, 



And nations have scattered been ; 

 But the stout old Ivy shall never fade, 



From its hale and hearty green. 

 The brave old plant in its lonely days, 



Shall fatten upon the past : 

 For the stateliest building man can raise, 



Is the Ivy's food at last. 



Creeping on, where time has been, 

 A rare old plant is the Ivy green. 



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