BOX-TREE. 1 47 



for its hardness and yellow colour ; and Virgil 

 says — 



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

 Smooth-grain'd, and proper for the turner 

 Which curious hands may carve, and steel 

 invade." 



made, x 



's trade ; f 

 1 with ease C 



From the Latin poets we learn that this 

 wood was then employed as at present, in 

 forming musical flutes. — 



Si buxos injlare juvat. Virgil. 



fc4 If it pleases you to breathe into the box." 



■ 7ion illos carmina vocum, 



Longave midtifori delectat 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 ; laqueos hccc nectit amanttim, 

 Et venatricis disponit retiaformce. 



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 



