210 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
eyes formed two streams, which ran from his chamber into the garden. Where they 
sank into the ground there sprang up the trees, the weeping willow and the frankin- 
cense tree. The first weeps and mourns, the second is incessantly shedding big 
tears in remembrance of David’s repentance.” 
Among British poets the willow of any species is considered to be the emblem of 
despairing love, and to ‘wear the willow’ is significant of sorrow and forsaken 
loneliness. 
“Tn love the sad forsaken wight 
The willow garland weareth.” 
Desdemona’s song suggests this idea:— 
“The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree. 
Sing, all a green willow! 
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee. 
Sing, willow! willow! willow! 
The fresh streams ran by her, and murmured her moans, 
The salt tears ran from her, and softened the stones. 
Sing, willow ! willow! willow! 
Sing all a green willow must be my garland.”, 
Herrick says :— 
«A willow garland thon didst send, 
Perfumed, last day to me, 
Which did but only this portend, 
I was forsook by thee. 
Since so it is, I’ll tell thee what, 
To-morrow thou shalt see 
Me wear the willow, after that 
To die upon the tree.” 
The death of poor Ophelia, as described by the Queen in “ Hamlet,” refers to the 
willow :— 
“ There is a willow grows ascaunt the brook, 
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream, 
Therewith fantastic garlands did she make 
Of crow flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, 
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name. 
There on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds 
Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke, 
When down her weedy trophies and herself 
Fell in the weeping brook.” 
The willow is the badge of the Highland clan Cumming. 
SPECIES V-SALIX ALBA. “Linn.” Koch, 
Piates MCCCIX. MCCCX. MCCCXL 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. XL Tab. DCVIII. Fig. 1263. 
Dillot, Fl. Gall. et Germ. Exsice. No. 847. 
Twigs erect, not breaking off readily at their origin. Leaves 
narrowly elliptical, nearly equally attenuated at each end, finely 
ee eee ttl eee . =n > — 
