70 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



Amid the plain a spreading laurel stood, 

 The grace and ornament of all the wood : 

 That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat 

 From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat : 

 Her leafy arms with such extent were spread, 

 So near the clouds were her aspiring head, 

 That hosts of birds that wing the liquid air 

 Perched in the boughs had nightly lodging there, 

 And flocks of sheep beneath the shade, from far 

 Might hear the rattling hail, and wintry war, 

 From Heaven's inclemency here found retreat, 

 Enjoyed the cool, and shunned the scorching heat : 

 A hundred knights might there at ease abide ; 

 And every knight a lady by his side : 

 The trunk itself such odours did bequeath, 

 That a Moluccan breeze to these was common breath. 

 The lords and ladies here, approaching, paid 

 Their homage with a low obeisance made : 

 And seemed to venerate the sacred shade." 



The following lines, addressed by Tasso to a Laurel in 

 his lady's hair, are, with their translation, taken from the 

 Literary Pocket-Book for the year 1821 : 



" O pianta trionfale, 

 Onor d' imperatori, 

 Hor de' nomi de' regi anco t' onori 

 Cosi di pregio in pregio, 

 Di vittoria in vittoria, 

 Vai trapassando, e d' una in altra gloria ; 

 Arbore gentile, e regio, 

 Per che nulla ti manchi, orna le chiome 

 Di chi d' Amor trionfa, e 1' alme ha dome." 



O glad triumphal bough, 



That now adornest conquering chiefs, and now 



Clippest the brows of over-ruling kings : 



From victory to victory 



Thus climbing on, through all the heights of story, 



From worth to worth, and glory unto glory ; 



To finish all, O gentle and royal tree, 



Thou reignest now upon that flourishing head, 



At whose triumphant eyes Love and our souls are led. 



