218 AUTUMNAL LEAVES. 



Though poetry has had little to say of the Lime, 

 it has had much to say of the Ivy and its leaves, 

 which have suggested various reflections, embody- 

 ing conflicting sentiments of pleasure and dis- 

 like and have given rise to widely differing 

 feelings and ideas. Mrs. Hemans says : 



' Oh ! how could fancy crown with thee 



In ancient days the god of wine, 

 And bid thee at the banquet be 



Companion of the vine ? 

 Thy home, wild plant, is where each sound 



Of revelry hath long been o'er ; 

 Where song's full notes once peal'd around 



But now are heard no more/ 



The prettily descriptive lines of Mant aptly give 

 the characteristics of the plant : 



* Its verdure trails the Ivy shoot 

 Along the ground from root to root ; 

 Or climbing high, with random maze, 

 O'er Elm and Ash and Alder strays ; 

 And round each trunk a network weaves 

 Fantastic, and each bough with leaves 

 Of countless shapes entwines, and studs 

 With pale green blooms and half-form'd buds.' 



And further : 



' The Ivy, fairest plant to seize, 

 And piomptest, on the neighbouring trees, 



