CHAP, vi S Y L V A 313 



from blood and slaughter. And now after all this, 

 might one conjecture by a mere inspection of those 

 several sculps, statues, and medals yet exstant, repre- 

 senting the heads of emperors, poets, &?c. the wreaths 

 and coronets seem to be compos'd of a more flexible 

 and compliant species than the common bay, and 

 more applicable to the brows, except where the ends 

 and stalks of the tender branch were tyed together 

 with a lemnisc or ribbon. And there be yet 1 who 

 contend for the Alexandrian laurel, and the tinus as 

 more ductile ; but without any good evidence. Pliny 

 I find says nothing of this question, naming only the 

 Cyprian and Delphic ; besides, the figure, colour of 

 the rind and leaf, crackling in the fire, which it 

 impugns, (as 'tis said it does lightning) gives plainly 

 the honour of it to the common bay. We say 

 nothing of its sacred use in the Gentile lustration, 

 purgation, and several other attributes. 

 To conclude ; 



2 From laurel 3 chew'd the Pythian priestess rose, 

 Events of future actions to disclose. 

 Laurel triumphant generals did wear, 

 And laurel heralds in their hands did bear. 

 Poets ambitious of unfading praise, 

 Phoebus, the Muses all are crown'd with bays. 

 And vertue to her sons the prize does name 

 Symbol of glory, and immortal fame. 



1 Carol. Avanti not. in cornan' Bapt. Fiera. 



1 Tu sacros Phoebi tripodas, tu sidera sentis, 

 Et casus aperis rerum praesaga futuros. 

 Te juvat armorum strepitus, clangorque tubarum ; 

 Perque acies medias, saevique pericula belli, 

 Accendis bellantum animos ; te Cynthius ipse, 

 Te Musae, vatesque sacri optavere coronam : 

 Ipsa suis virtus te spem proponit alumnis, 

 Tantum servatus valuit pudor, & bona fama. Rapinus. 



J Daphncphagi were such as after eating the leaves of the bay, became 

 inspir'd. 



n 



