BOX-TREE. 147 



for its hardness and yellow colour ; and Virgil 

 says 



" Nor box, nor limes, without their use are made, 

 Smooth-grained, and proper for the turner's 

 Which curious hands may carve, and steel 

 invade." 



made, N 



's trade; (^ 

 1 with ease ( 



From the Latin poets we learn that this 

 wood was then employed as at present, in 

 forming musical flutes. 



Si buxos inflare juvat. VIRGIL. 



fc< If it pleases you to breathe into the box." 



1 ' non illos carmina vocum, 

 JLongave multifori delect at tibia buxi. OVID. 



" Neither does the melody of the voice, nor the long 

 pipe of many-holed box delight them." 



The ancients, also, made combs of this 

 wood, as may be seen in Martial. In modern 

 times, Cowley has thus mentioned it : 



non ultima belli 



Arma puellaris 5 laqueos luzc nectit amantum^ 

 Et venatricis disponit retia formes. 



And which is thus translated in the Silva: 



" box-combs bear no small part 



In the militia of the female art ; 



They tie the links which hold our gallants fast, 



And spread the nets to which fond lovers haste." 



Evelyn also states, that " It is of special use 

 for the turner, engraver, carver, mathema- 



L 2 



