FLORA DOMESTIC A. 



and churches at Christmas. It was sold about the streets 

 of London for that purpose : Gay adverts to this custom : 



" When rosemary, and bayes, the poet's crown, 

 Are bawled in frequent cries through all the town ; 

 Then judge the festival of Christmas near, 

 Christmas, the joyous period of the year ! 

 Now with bright holly all the temples strew, 

 With laurel green, and sacred misseltoe." 



GAY'S TRIVIA. 



The Bay, which is the meed of the poet, a poet only 

 can celebrate; and what flower or tree has been more 

 highly celebrated than this tree, which the resemblance of 

 its name to that of his mistress induced Petrarch to make 

 the continual subject of his pen ? Thus, in speaking of the 

 commencement of his passion, he uses this figure : 



<c Amor fra 1' erbe una leggiadra rete 

 D'oro e di perle tese sott' un ramo 

 Del 1' arbor sempre verde, ch' i tant' amo 

 Benche n' abbia ombre piu triste, che liete." 



SONNET 148. 



Love mid the grass laid forth a lovely net 

 Of woven pearls and gold, under the veil 

 Of that fair evergreen I love so well, 

 Although its shade is sad to me while sweet. 



Again : 



" Arbor vittoriosa e trionfale, 

 Onor d' imperadori e di poeti, 

 Quanti m' hai fatto di dogliosi e lieti 

 In questa breve mia vita mortale !" 



SONNET 225, 



O thou victorious and triumphant tree, 

 Glory of poets and of emperors, 

 How many sad and how many sweet hours 

 Hast thou in this short life bestow'd on me ! 



" L' aura celeste; che 'n quel verde Lauro 

 Spira, ov' Amor feri nel fianco Apollo 

 E a me pose un dolce giogo al collo 

 Tal, che mia liberta tardi ristauro." 



SONNET 164. 



