312 S Y L V A BOOK ii 



being in such reputation for clearing the air, and 

 resisting contagion ; upon which account I question 

 not but Pliny (the nephew) was so frequently at 

 his beloved Laurentium, so near the city. Besides, 

 for their vertue against lightning, which Tiberius so 

 exceedingly dreaded, that when it came with thunder, 

 he would creep under his bed to avoid it, and shaded 

 his head with the boughs. The story of the branch 

 in the bill of the white-hen, let fall into the lap of 

 Livia Drusilla, being planted, prosper'd so floridly, 

 as made it reputed so sacred, as to use it for impaling 

 the heads of the triumphing emperors, and to adorn 

 the limina of the temples and royal palace of the great 

 Pontiff; and thence calYdjanitrices Caesarum : 



Cum tandem apposita velantur limina lauro, 



Cingit & Augustas arbor opaca fores ! 



Num quia perpetuos meruerunt ista triumphos ? 



As still at present in Rome and other cities, they 

 use to trim up their churches and monastries on 

 solemn festivals, when there is station and indulgences 

 granted in honour of the saint or patron ; as also on 

 occasion of signal victories, and other joyful tidings ; 

 and those garlands made up with hobby-horse tinsel, 

 make a glitterring show, and rattling noise when the 

 air moves them. 



With the leaves of laurel, they made up their 

 dispatches and letters, laurels invo/utae, wrapt in bay- 

 leaves, which they sent to the senate from the victor- 

 ious general : The spears, lances and fasces, nay, tents 

 and ships, Gfc. were all dress'd up with laurels ; and 

 in triumph every common-soldier carryed a sprig in 

 their hand, as we may see in the ancient and best 

 bass-relievo of the ancients, as of virtue to purge them 



