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an example imitated by his successors. This custom was 

 derived from the Greeks. The oration of Demosthenes is well 

 known, the subject of which is " The Golden Crown" decreed 

 him by his fellow citizens, and opposed by Aeschines. 



li The Laurel, mead of mighty conquerors " (as Spencer terms 

 it) when admiration assumes the form of numerous crowns of 

 gold, it might be no indifferent reward for a victorious general 

 in ancient times. Things are however done differently in 

 modern days. The State assumes the responsibility of 

 rewarding the victor, the Sovereign as the fountain of honour 

 creates him a peer of the realm with suitable income and many 

 titles and honorary distinctions, while the gratitude of the 

 people is shown by many of the chief cities who are proud to 

 confer upon him the " Honorary Freedom " of their towns 

 enshrined in golden caskets. The general is usually no less 

 laudatory of the bravery of his troops who figuratively share 

 with him the glory of the victory — but for final tangible 

 reward — if I may use the words of Lover's poem u The 

 Soldier " :— 



" For what had he to do with laurels ? 

 He was only one of the rank and file." 

 But to return to ancient story, Laurentum the capital of the 

 ancient kingdom of Latium was so called by the circumstance 

 related by Virgil. On the foundation of his city by King 

 Latinus on the sea coast east of Tiber — a venerable Laurel tree 

 was found growing on the spot he had selected. 



This plant Latinus, when his town he walled, 



then found, and from the tree Laurentum called, 



and last, — in honour of his new abode 



He vowed the laurel to the laurel's god. 



Aeneid, Bk. VII. 



" Secure from thunder and unharmed of Jove." 

 The ancients believed that Laurel communicated the spirit 

 of prophecy and poetry : hence the custom of crowning the 

 pythoness and poets, and of putting laurel leaves under one's 

 pillow to acquire inspiration. 



