POPLAR TREE. 345 



rest. TIu's circumstance has been noticed by one of our 

 living poets : 



" And there the alder was with its bright green, 

 And the broad chesnut, and the poplar's shoot, 

 That like a feather waves from head to foot." 



LEIGH HUNT. 



The following lively picture we may suppose to design 

 the Black Poplar, as that which most reflects the sun- 

 shine : 



" The poplar there 



Shoots up its spire, and shakes its leaves i' the sun 

 Fantastical, while round its slender base 

 Rambles the sweet-breathed woodbine." 



B. CORNWALL. 



Here we have the White Poplar : 



" The greenwoods moved, and the light poplar shook 

 Its silver pyramid of leaves.'' 



B. CORNWALL. 



In the Odyssey, the busy motion of the Poplar leaves 

 is compared to that of a woman's fingers when spinning : 



" Full fifty handmaids form the household train, 

 Some turn the mill, or sift the golden grain ; 

 Some ply the loom ; their busy fingers move 

 Like poplar leaves when Zephyr fans the grove." 



Book vii. 



Garcilasso, the Spanish poet, likens it to a lady's hair, 

 playing in the wind : 



" Each wind that breathes, gallantly here and there 

 Waves the fine gold of her disordered hair, 

 As a green poplar leaf in wanton play 

 Dances for joy at rosy break of day." 



WIFFEN'S Garcila&so. 



