ORIENTAL PLANE. 255 



on ancient record was an Oriental Plane which 

 grew in Phrygia. Its dimensions are not handed 

 down to us, but from the following circumstances 

 we may suppose them to have been very ample. 

 When Xerxes set out on his Grecian expedition 

 his route led him near this noble tree. Xerxes, 

 it seems, was a great admirer of trees. Amidst 

 all his devastations in an enemy's country it was 

 his particular order to save the groves. This 

 wonderful Plane therefore struck his fancy. He 

 had seen nothing like it before, and, to the 

 astonishment of all his officers, orders were 

 despatched to the right and left of his mighty 

 host to halt three days, during which time he 

 could not be drawn from the Phrygian Plane. 

 His pavilion was spread under it, and he enjoyed 

 the luxury of its delicious shade, while the Greeks 

 were taking measures to defend Thermopylaa. 

 The story may not speak much in favour of the 

 Prince ; but it is my business only to pay honour 

 to the tree.' 



The falling leaves of the Planes reveal a beau- 

 tiful provision of Nature for the protection of the 

 young buds of the succeeding season during the 

 possible cold of Autumn, and in their tenderest 



