CYPRESS TREE. 189 



Fable informs us, that this emblem of grief 

 owes its name to Cyparissus, a beautiful youth, 

 who was the favourite of Apollo — 



, " Whose hand adapts with equal skill, the strings 



To bows with which he kills, and harps to which he 

 sings .'' 



Cyparissus having accidentally killed a favou- 

 rite stag of Apollo's, 



" Much was the beast by Caea's youth caress'd, 

 But thou, sweet Cyparissus, lov'dst him best." 



The youth could not be cured of his sorrow — 



" Himself he would have slain through desp'rate grief. 

 What said not Phoebus, that might yield relief? 

 To cease his mourning he the boy desir'd, 

 Or mourn no more than such a loss requir'd. 

 But he incessant griev'd. At length address'd 

 To the superior powers a last request; 

 Praying, in expiation of his crime, 

 Thenceforth to mourn to all succeeding time. 



And now, of blood exhausted he appears — 

 Drain'd by a torrent of continual tears. 

 The fleshy colour in his body fades, 

 And a green tincture all his limbs invades. 

 From his fair head, where curling locks late hung, 

 A horrid bush, with bristled branches sprung; 

 Which, stifF'ning by degrees its stem extends, 

 Till to the starry skies the spire ascends. 



Apollo sad look'd on, and sighing cry'd, 

 Then be for ever what thy pray'r imply'd : 

 Bemoan'd by me, in others grief excite, 

 And still preside at ev'ry fun'ral rite/' 



Ovid, Book x. 



