152 PROSERPINA. 



branches in circles as a trundled mop throws off 

 drops, though it can always order the branches to 

 fly off in what order it likes, — two at a time, opposite 

 to each other ; or three, or five, in a spiral coil ; or 

 one here and one there, on this side and that ; 

 but it is always twisting, in its own inner mind 

 and force ; hence it is especially proper to use 

 the word ' stem ' of it — crrefifia, a twined wreath ; 

 properly, twined round a staff, or sceptre : there- 

 fore, learn at once by heart these lines in the 

 opening Iliad : 



" 'SrefifiaT e^ow iv yepalv e/CTjfiokov ' AiroWavos, 

 Xpvcricp dva o-KrjTTTpq)'" 



And recollect that a sceptre is properly a staff 

 to lean upon ; and that as a crown or diadem is 

 first a binding thing, a ' sceptre ' is first a supporting 

 thing, and it is in its nobleness, itself made of 

 the stem of a young tree. You may just as well 



learn also this : 



» 



" Nal p-a roSe aKryrtTpov, to fiev ovTrore (pvXXa kcu o^ov; 

 <Pvae(,, eTreiSr) vpura TopJ<]v iv opecrat XeXonrev, 

 OvS" avadrfkrjaet,' irepl yap pa e ^aXico? eXeijre 

 $vXka re Kal <f>\otdw vvv avre /j-iv uie? ' ' Ayaicov 

 'Ev 7ra\a/*j75 (fjopiovtri SiKacnroXoi, di re Oe/AiaTw; 

 JTpo? J to? elpvaTaf" 



