270 SYLVAN WINTER. 



set out on Hs Grecian expedition iiis route led 

 him near this noble tree. Xerxes, it seems, was 

 a great admirer of trees." Amidst all his devasta- 

 tions in an enemy's country, it was his particular 

 order to spare the groves. This wonderful Plane 

 therefore struck his fancy. He had seen nothing 

 like it before, and, to the astonishment of all his 

 officers, orders were despatched to the right and 

 left of his mighty host to halt three days, during 

 which time he could not be drawn from the 

 Phrygian Plane. His pavilion was spread under 

 it, and he enjoyed the luxury of its delicious shade, 

 while the Greeks were taking measures to defend 

 Thermopylae, The story may not speak much in 

 favour of the Prince ; but it is my business only 

 to pay honour to the tree.'* 



Of another Platanus he says : ' In Arcadia, at 

 the foot of the mountains bounding the Stympha- 

 lian plains (famous for one of the labours of 

 Hercules), stood the little town of Oaphiae ; and, 

 just above it, rose a fountain, called the Menelaid 

 fountain ; by the side of which, Pausanias tells us 

 (Paus. Arcad. c. 23), grew a Plane Tree of extra- 

 * ' Forest Scenery,' pages 164-5. 



