xiv RIVERSIDE LETTERS 113 



"The tame or garden Branke Ursine is 

 na^ned in Latin Sativus, or Hortensis Acan- 

 thus, in Greek TralSepos : and of Galen, 

 Oribasius and Plinie /j,^d^v\\as : Plinie 

 also calleth this Acanthus lenis, or smooth 

 Branke Ursine, and reporteth it to be a citie 

 herbe and to serve for arbors : some name it 

 Branca Ursina (others use to call Cowparsnep 

 by the name of Branca Ursina). The Italians 

 call it Acantho, and Branca Orsina : the 

 Spaniards Terna Gignante : the ingravers of 

 old time were wont to carve the leaves of 

 this Branke Ursine in pillers, and other 

 workes, and also upon the eares of pots, as 

 among others Virgill testifieth in the third 

 Eclog of his Bucolickes. 



Et nobis idem Alcimedon duo poculo fecit, 

 Et mollis circum est ansas amplexus Acantho." 



At this season of the year, when the steam 

 launches and holiday people have ceased from 

 troubling, the river is very delightful, and I 

 enjoy taking my little dog with me in the 

 punt of an afternoon ; I land him on the bank 



i 



